Chapter 521: I’m Back!

In the bedroom, the two of them were embracing each other.

The dim light from a small night lamp softly illuminated Han Xinyan’s sleeping face.

Shen Fei looked at Han Xinyan, feeling very conflicted.

He owed her, but from the current situation, it seemed that Han Xinyan was the one filled with guilt toward him.

But that wasn’t his intention. However, no matter what, Shen Fei understood that the guilt in Han Xinyan’s heart would always exist.

“Xinyan, you shouldn’t feel guilty! I don’t want you to feel this way! I owe you! In my life, I don’t have big ambitions; I just want you and Yueyue to have a good life. If you still feel guilty like this, then… doesn’t that mean I’ve lived my life in vain?”

He gently stroked Han Xinyan’s head, his eyes full of deep affection as he gazed at her face.

After expressing his own guilt, Shen Fei slowly withdrew his hand.

As if afraid of disturbing her sleep, he moved very gently.

However, as Shen Fei closed his eyes, Han Xinyan also turned over, facing the empty side of the bed. She could no longer hold back, and two lines of silent tears fell from her eyes.

—

The next day.

Even though her heart was still weighed down by emotional chains, Han Xinyan woke up early, as per her biological clock.

After breakfast, she sent the child to school and then drove to the company.

Life continued as usual, with no changes.

However, the video of Zhang Xiulian running a red light and causing a scene was still circulating online, and the public opinion was escalating.

Rather than focusing on the rights and wrongs of the incident itself, the public’s attention was mainly directed at Shen Fei and Han Xinyan.

Especially Shen Fei.

The competitors of Xinyue Group.

The hired online trolls from Tengke Company.

And those little “haters” who disliked every move Shen Fei made.

The combined forces of these three groups became a powerful force targeting Shen Fei.

As for the executives of Tengke Company, after learning that a big shot had intervened, and realizing that no matter how much they stirred up the situation, they couldn’t change the outcome of losing the lawsuit, they still hired trolls to escalate the public opinion.

This was because they hoped the public pressure could change the temperament of Longguang Media and Shen Fei, hoping they would feel grateful and accept the olive branch of reconciliation, along with withdrawing the lawsuit against Tengke Company.

Three days passed.

Because of Longguang Media suing Tengke Company and the public scandal involving Zhang Xiulian, Shen Fei became the focal point of public opinion.

Many people who had dealings with Shen Fei reached out to inquire about the situation.

From Jiang Tiancheng, Hu Yuantai, Duan Guxiang, to those who had met Shen Fei in passing, like Huang Jing and Shi Hongke, they all asked him about the situation.

But throughout all this, neither Jiang Anbang nor Yu Guotu from the municipal government had called him, let alone reached out to him.

This made Shen Fei feel like they were deliberately avoiding him. But no matter what, he didn’t mind.

—

The next day.

The first day of the Xinyue Group’s offline store for the Yuexin series opened.

It was not affected by public opinion, nor was the opening ceremony postponed. The Yuexin series started its operations as scheduled.

However, Shen Fei, the owner of the Yuexin series, did not attend.

Only Han Xinyan, along with Tang Xingwen and the head of the PR department, Lin Tianzhen, went to the Lanting Building.

As for Shen Fei, he continued to relax on the sofa at home, immersing himself in the world of the game “Tianjue.”

Around lunchtime, an unfamiliar number appeared on Shen Fei’s phone screen.

He thought for a moment but couldn’t recall who the number belonged to.

Frowning slightly, he still pressed the answer button.

“Who’s this?”

“Guess!” A brief, gentle voice rang out, leaving Shen Fei momentarily stunned.

The person on the other end seemed to wonder why Shen Fei hadn’t responded and continued, “Can’t guess?”

After a pause, the voice seemed to become a bit disappointed, then quickly recovered, continuing to speak on their own.

“Well, I can understand. After all, we haven’t been in touch for several years…”

As soon as the person finished speaking, Shen Fei stood up from the sofa.

That voice—why did it sound so familiar?

It turned out that this person, who hadn’t been in touch for several years, was an old acquaintance!

“Xuanxuan Jie, is that you?” Shen Fei said, his voice a bit excited.

“Yes, Xiao Fei, I’m back!” Hearing the emotion in Shen Fei’s voice, Deng Xuanxuan also smiled and responded softly.

“Xuanxuan Jie, why did you come back so suddenly? I heard from Teacher Deng that you were supposed to come back next year?” Shen Fei asked.

“I was actually planning to come back next year, but a new batch of teachers arrived early, so I came back ahead of schedule!” Deng Xuanxuan explained.

“Ah, I see! That’s good! Xuanxuan Jie, are you at home or somewhere else right now?” Shen Fei asked.

“Are you asking because you want to invite me to dinner?” Deng Xuanxuan laughed.

Even though in their past lives, Shen Fei and Deng Xuanxuan had kept in contact, and Shen Fei had offered her gifts, she had always declined.

But something as simple as having a meal together, Deng Xuanxuan was happy to accept.

“Of course! Xuanxuan Jie, I’ll give you an address, and I’ll come pick you up! It’s lunchtime now, so we can eat and chat! We can also invite Teacher Deng and his wife to join us! Over the years, I’ve wanted to contact you while you were teaching in the mountains, but I didn’t want to trouble you, so I never reached out!” Shen Fei said seriously.

Although in his past life, Shen Fei remained in contact with Deng Xuanxuan after becoming successful, meeting again in this life still made him a bit excited.

After all, since middle school, when Teacher Deng took him to meet Deng Xuanxuan, she had always treated him like a younger brother.

She bought him school supplies, took him out for food and drinks, and most of the external information he received at that time came from Deng Xuanxuan.

He had long considered her family.

“Invite me to dinner? Now you’re a billionaire! If I sit with you, won’t it embarrass you?” Deng Xuanxuan teased.

“Xuanxuan Jie, don’t say that! Whether I’m rich or powerful, you and Teacher Deng and his wife are my family! Xuanxuan Jie, as long as you and Teacher Deng don’t mind, I’ll always be part of your family! You’ll always be my sister!” Shen Fei said seriously.

“Tsk, you’re such a smooth talker!” Deng Xuanxuan teased again.

“Hehe, Xuanxuan Jie, where are you? I’ll come find you!” Shen Fei asked.

“Alright, you give me an address, and I’ll drive over! As for Teacher Deng and his wife, they’re busy preparing new courses and are really swamped! We can get together some other time!” Deng Xuanxuan laughed.

“Okay, in that case, how about we go to the spicy hotpot shop near the Third High School?”

—————- END —————-

Chapter 522: A Reunion with an Old Friend!

When Shen Fei mentioned the location, a hotpot shop next to the Third Middle School, a strange feeling surged in Deng Xuanxuan’s heart.

Given Shen Fei’s current status and position, he could easily go to any high-end venue without issue, and cost would never be a concern. But the first place that came to his mind was a hotpot shop the two of them used to frequent…

This made her believe that, despite Shen Fei’s impressive achievements, he was still the same Shen Fei who used to follow her around.

Just this one point was enough to change her perception of him.

“A hotpot shop? You might not be able to eat there anymore. The grandparents running that shop retired years ago!” Deng Xuanxuan laughed.

Before Shen Fei could respond, she continued,

“Also, hotpot really isn’t suitable for you now! You’ve accomplished so much, and eating hotpot with me might cause some gossip. It’s better to go somewhere with more privacy!”

More privacy?

Shen Fei was stunned, then said seriously,

“In that case, the Z.G.C. restaurant should be a good choice!”

Z.G.C.?

Deng Xuanxuan was unfamiliar with the restaurant. She didn’t come from an affluent background, so even though she had lived in Shenshi for over ten years, she had never been to such high-end places, nor had she heard of them.

The Z.G.C. restaurant was even established after she had gone to the mountains to teach, so it made sense she didn’t know about it.

“Alright, let’s go to that restaurant then! I’ll guide you there!” Deng Xuanxuan said.

“Great, I’ll head there first!” Shen Fei replied.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they hung up. Shen Fei didn’t waste time and quickly changed clothes before driving to the Z.G.C. restaurant.

When he arrived, he didn’t see Deng Xuanxuan. He knew she would arrive in about half an hour, so he waited.

Thirty minutes later, Deng Xuanxuan arrived, driving a small Mercedes. However, when she parked and saw the cars in the parking lot, she froze.

The cars were all luxury sports cars worth over a million.

Her Mercedes, which cost a few hundred thousand, seemed out of place in such a crowd.

Surprised, she wondered what kind of place Shen Fei had chosen.

After finding a spacious parking spot with few cars, she sighed in relief. Otherwise, she would have been too nervous to park there. She didn’t want to risk damaging her car.

As Shen Fei had been standing at the entrance, he immediately smiled when he saw Deng Xuanxuan.

Even though they hadn’t seen each other in years, to Shen Fei, Deng Xuanxuan seemed unchanged.

They exchanged smiles, and a familiar sense of warmth filled the air.

Shen Fei swallowed nervously and said,

“Xuanxuan Jie, it’s been six years since we last met!”

“Yeah, I haven’t been back in six years! I’ve been in the mountains all this time!” Deng Xuanxuan replied, shaking her head with a helpless smile.

“By the way, you deleted my WeChat and phone number back then, even blocked me. You even deleted the contact information for your teacher and his wife. What was that about? Were you planning to sever ties with us? I’m not saying this to criticize you, but that was a bit much!” Deng Xuanxuan continued.

“Xuanxuan Jie, it was just that the situation back then was special. I had fallen into a bad place, I had given up on myself, and I didn’t want to drag you down with me. Deleting your contact information was my way of trying not to burden you, and to hold onto my principles!” Shen Fei said seriously.

During this time, Deng Xuanxuan had already looked up some information about Shen Fei’s past and his current situation online. Hearing him speak so calmly, she couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful.

But the words had already been said, and there was no taking them back.

“Since you say so, let’s not dwell on the past. We should always look forward, right? I’ve heard from my parents about your past, and we’re all happy for your current success and achievements. Especially my dad, who has always supported you since middle school. Now that you’ve done so well, he’s extremely proud!” Deng Xuanxuan smiled.

“Indeed, all of this is thanks to Teacher Deng! Without him, I wouldn’t have achieved anything. Actually, it’s not just Teacher Deng, but also your teacher’s wife and you, Xuanxuan Jie, who helped me. You made sure I had food and warmth, and showed me the kindness of this world. Without that, I might have gone down the wrong path!” Shen Fei said with a smile.

His tone was light, showing no signs of being affected by the past.

Then, after a brief pause, Shen Fei changed the topic,

“Xuanxuan Jie, we’re here to catch up today, so let’s not talk about those unpleasant things. Let’s go inside!”

“Alright!” Deng Xuanxuan nodded.

Hearing Shen Fei’s words, the tension she had felt from the luxury cars at the restaurant entrance disappeared completely.

But the moment they stepped inside, she was startled by the behavior of the staff.

“Mr. Shen, welcome!!”

From the moment Shen Fei stepped through the door, every waiter they passed greeted him respectfully.

The restaurant exuded an air of luxury, and among the people there, only Shen Fei was treated with such courtesy.

Deng Xuanxuan was even more surprised now.

When they were handed the electronic menu, she was astonished to see the prices.

“The prices are a bit too high, aren’t they?”

The dishes ranged from thousands to tens of thousands of yuan.

Even the cheapest vegetarian salad cost several thousand.

Deng Xuanxuan was in shock, as she had never encountered such expensive menus.

“Xuanxuan Jie, don’t worry about it. Just order what you like. We can afford it!” Shen Fei said.

“Well… when I was teaching in the mountains, the most I ever spent on food was a few dozen yuan. Sitting here with dishes costing thousands to tens of thousands, I’m really not used to it!” Deng Xuanxuan said with a bitter smile.

“Alright, should we go somewhere else?” Shen Fei frowned, about to get up.

“No, no, it’s fine here. We don’t need to change places! I actually planned to treat you this time, but it looks like you’ll have to pay this time!” Deng Xuanxuan laughed and handed the electronic menu to Shen Fei.

“Go ahead and order!” she said.

Shen Fei nodded and began selecting the dishes. Just as he was about to reminisce with Deng Xuanxuan, his phone rang.

It was Liang Shuang calling!

“Xuanxuan Jie, I need to take this call!” Shen Fei said.

He pressed the answer button.

“Lawyer Liang, what’s up?”

“Mr. Shen, the legal team from Tengke Company is here. They said if we agree to withdraw the lawsuit, they’ll immediately take down the ‘Tianxia’ mobile game!” Liang Shuang said in a deep voice.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 523: Stepping on Dog Poop Luck!

When Liang Shuang reported the content to Shen Fei, he smiled.

“What do they think by saying that? Wanting to use the removal of ‘Tianxia’ to exchange for us dropping the lawsuit? Do they think they are worthy of this? After all this time, their attitude is still so arrogant?”

“President Shen, you’ve misunderstood them! If they were still that arrogant, I wouldn’t be calling you; I would’ve directly rejected them! The attitude they’ve shown is very humble. They said that as long as we agree to withdraw the lawsuit, they will accept any conditions we propose. They even said that withdrawing the lawsuit should be very easy for us…”

After a pause, Liang Shuang lowered her voice and said,

“President Shen, Tengke Company must also know that some big figures are involved in this lawsuit. After weighing things, they must have realized they have no chance of winning, which is why they’re so proactive in seeking a settlement with us!”

“Settle? What’s the point of negotiating now? I already gave them so many chances, and they didn’t take them seriously. What’s the use of saying this now?”

Shen Fei sneered and said coldly.

“President Shen, so you’re not planning to accept their settlement offer?” Liang Shuang asked, stunned.

“Of course not! Lawyer Liang, if I accept their settlement, all your efforts over the past few days will be wasted!”

After a pause, Shen Fei continued,

“What I mean is, no matter what conditions Tengke Company offers, we won’t accept them! No need to be polite, just tell them my intentions directly! Also, tell them not to waste their time. Whatever they have to say, let them say it in court!”

Liang Shuang nodded, but still voiced her thoughts.

“President Shen, personally, I hope you don’t accept their conditions, because whether for me or Yunhe Law Firm, this could be a chance to become famous, and it would elevate Yunhe’s business to a whole new level! But from your perspective, I think the settlement condition isn’t bad. As long as you agree, Tengke Company will definitely not treat you unfairly! Moreover, isn’t this the result we ultimately want?”

Actually, Liang Shuang didn’t need to say all this.

The lawsuit with Tengke Company was beneficial for both Liang Shuang and Yunhe Law Firm. If Shen Fei accepted their settlement, it would be a bad thing for her and the firm, as all their hard work would be in vain, and they would remain unknown.

But out of gratitude and consideration for Shen Fei, she still said this, hoping he would carefully consider it.

Seeing Liang Shuang speak like this, Shen Fei was a little moved.

But despite this, he still rejected Liang Shuang’s good intentions.

“Lawyer Liang, don’t worry. At this point, no matter how good the settlement offer from Tengke Company is, I won’t accept it, nor will I choose to withdraw the lawsuit! Now, this lawsuit with Tengke Company is no longer just about a mobile game; it’s a battle between companies and about my reputation! If we withdraw, it will be quickly forgotten, but if we continue the lawsuit and win, my name will be famous not just in Huaguo but worldwide. What I stand to gain will be more than what Tengke Company offers!”

After saying this, Liang Shuang was truly stunned.

She had only considered the immediate benefits, but hadn’t thought so far into the future.

“President Shen, you are right!”

“Mm, if I’m not mistaken, Tengke Company will definitely continue to approach you. But no matter what they say, just refuse them outright! Be firm in your stance, and there’s no need to discuss it with me further!” Shen Fei said.

“Understood, President Shen!”

At Z.G.C.

As soon as Shen Fei hung up the phone, Deng Xuanxuan couldn’t wait to speak.

“Xiao Fei, did Tengke Company contact you? They want to use the removal of the game to get you to drop the lawsuit?”

“Yes, but I’m not planning to accept their settlement! I’ve given them several chances, but not only did they not accept, they treated me like a fool! Now that things are looking bad, they want to come to me for a settlement. It’s too late!” Shen Fei replied.

“Mm, I don’t know much about business, but I do know about Tengke Company’s prestige! In this case, Xiao Fei, do you have the confidence to continue fighting them?” Deng Xuanxuan asked with concern.

“Sister Xuanxuan, do you think I would refuse their settlement so firmly if I didn’t have confidence?”

Shen Fei smiled confidently, as if everything was under control.

Seeing this, Deng Xuanxuan also smiled and nodded.

“Looks like you’re really confident! But with that said, once you go to court with Tengke Company, your rivalry with them will be sealed!”

“Let it be sealed! If not now, then later! It’ll happen sooner or later, so it might as well happen now!” Shen Fei said.

“Tsk, you’re speaking in riddles!”

Deng Xuanxuan gasped, then, after coming back to her senses, she smiled helplessly.

“Looks like you’ve already thought of Tengke Company as a competitor?”

“Not exactly, but after this, you’ll definitely understand my thoughts, Sister Xuanxuan!” Shen Fei teased, not answering directly.

Seeing Shen Fei like this, Deng Xuanxuan was stunned for a moment, then she raised her head and looked at him seriously.

“I’ve always agreed with my dad’s recognition of you, but I really didn’t expect you to develop so strongly in just half a year, and even take on Tengke Company in court!”

“Sister Xuanxuan, just consider it as me stepping in dog poop luck! I suffered so much in the past, but now, it’s all paying off!” Shen Fei laughed loudly.

“No, no, no, don’t say that! It’s not just luck; you’re also really capable!” Deng Xuanxuan said.

“Yeah… But Sister Xuanxuan, I’ve been through so many hard years, and now that I see hope and a little light in life, I want to grab it more than anyone! Fortunately, this time, I really didn’t waste the opportunity!” Shen Fei said with emotion.

Hearing this, Deng Xuanxuan was very pleased.

However, she quickly changed the topic.

“Xiao Fei, we’re all very impressed with your achievements, and we’re really happy for you! My parents have been praising you ever since I came back! But Xiao Fei, I’ll be a bit blunt—have you thought about what kind of person you want to become?”

Actually, Deng Xuanxuan didn’t want to be discouraging.

But with Shen Fei’s high achievements now, she didn’t want him to lose his true self because of all this success.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 524: Would You Find It Troubling?

As soon as Deng Xuanxuan asked this question, Shen Fei fell into a moment of reflection.

In his past life, he had also met Deng Xuanxuan after achieving success, and she had once asked him the same question.

Unexpectedly, in this life, not only had they met earlier, but Deng Xuanxuan was still asking him the same thing.

However, Shen Fei didn’t answer her question directly.

“Xuanxuan, why are you asking this question…?”

“Xiaofei, if this were before, I definitely wouldn’t have asked you this question. But now, things are different. You have the ability now!” Deng Xuanxuan said in a serious tone.

“Since that’s the case, Xuanxuan, what do you think I should become?” Shen Fei countered with a question.

“What do I think? Do you still remember what you told me before?”

Deng Xuanxuan raised her head and looked directly into Shen Fei’s eyes.

Shen Fei then slipped into his memories, speaking softly, “Before, I often followed behind you, and you always taught me one thing: ‘The rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of every individual.’ I know what you wanted me to learn, so no matter what bad things happened to me later, I would often use those words to encourage myself! Xuanxuan, honestly, I really don’t want to disappoint you!”

“So, tell me, what was it that you said back then?” Deng Xuanxuan said seriously.

“Alright! Xuanxuan, I once told you that if I ever made it big in the future, I would build many welfare homes for orphaned children so that they would have a place to call home. I also wanted to bring educational resources to the mountains, ensuring that every child could receive a good education, and send warmth to those left-behind children, making sure they could eat their fill and be warm, supporting those who wanted to go to school… Xuanxuan, I remember it all. I haven’t forgotten!” Shen Fei said with a deep voice.

Afterward, Shen Fei continued, “But since I became successful, I haven’t done any of these things. It’s not that I don’t want to, but I’ve been waiting for you to return!”

“Hmm? Waiting for me to return?” Deng Xuanxuan was puzzled.

“Yes! This was our shared expectation. How could I do it alone? Of course, I need you, Xuanxuan, to join in!” Shen Fei said with a smile.

“What… do you mean?” Deng Xuanxuan asked.

“Of course, I want you to take charge of everything! The reason I’ve come this far is because of you. If you didn’t join in, how could I have started?” Shen Fei said.

However, Deng Xuanxuan was unusually silent.

She smiled gently and then asked, “Xiaofei, do you find it troubling what I just said?”

“Of course not! The achievements I have today are also thanks to you, Teacher Deng, and Madam, as well as you, Xuanxuan!” Shen Fei said gratefully.

“To be honest, Xiaofei, we haven’t seen each other in so many years. It’s only now that we’re meeting again, and I’m saying all this… Do you think it’s a bit too discouraging?”

Deng Xuanxuan paused, then added, “Do you find it troubling?”

“Not at all!” Shen Fei quickly waved his hand and smiled. “Xuanxuan, this is just like you! You won’t be formal with me because of the occasion! If you hadn’t said these things, I wouldn’t have felt that you’re the same Xuanxuan I remember!”

Before Deng Xuanxuan could speak again, Shen Fei became serious and said, “So, Xuanxuan, would you like to join me in realizing our shared dreams?”

“How do you mean? What can I do?”

Although she had once taught in the mountains, Deng Xuanxuan had never shrunk from any challenge.

“Of course, I will provide the funding, and you will make the arrangements. My request is simple: no need for fame, no need for publicizing everywhere. Just do the good deeds well, and ensure that those we help receive the assistance they deserve!” Shen Fei said.

“You’re not joking, are you?” Deng Xuanxuan asked.

“No, Xuanxuan, I’m serious!” Shen Fei affirmed.

“Well, then of course I’m willing! Before this, I sincerely want to thank you on behalf of those who will be helped!” Deng Xuanxuan said as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear, her expression still gentle.

Despite the difficult conditions in the mountain areas she had lived in for years, Deng Xuanxuan had never complained, nor had the hardships changed her.

Even today, at the age of thirty, she had not changed; she was still the same Deng Xuanxuan.

After hearing Deng Xuanxuan’s words, Shen Fei smiled.

The two didn’t continue discussing the matter further.

Shifting topics, he suddenly teased, “Xuanxuan, now that you’ve returned from teaching, and after so many years, I bet your teacher and his wife are probably urging you to go on a blind date by now!”

“Tsk, you really know them! Ever since they found out I was coming back, they’ve been pestering me!” Deng Xuanxuan shook her head, helpless.

“Well, that’s understandable! But even if they’re urging you to get married, your own thoughts are important too!” Shen Fei said.

“I understand that, of course! But when it comes to marriage, I’d rather believe in fate! Honestly, if my parents weren’t urging me, I wouldn’t be thinking about marriage. But I’m an only child, so I can’t make the decision. And I’m not young anymore, so I have to consider everything carefully!” Deng Xuanxuan sighed helplessly, then added, “But my mindset is good; after all, marriage is not just about fulfilling my parents’ expectations, it’s about finding my own happiness! Otherwise, that wouldn’t be responsible for my life!”

“Xuanxuan, of course, this needs careful consideration! By the way, do you have anyone in mind for a reliable partner?” Shen Fei asked calmly.

He clearly remembered that in his past life, Deng Xuanxuan didn’t marry hastily because of her parents’ expectations. Instead, she married after meeting a good person and had a happy married life.

As for the person she married, although he came from a humble background, he had worked hard and reached the top position in the education department.

But now, Shen Fei wasn’t sure if the two had met.

“Well, there are some people pursuing me, but I don’t like their personalities!” Deng Xuanxuan stated plainly.

“Hmm? What do you mean?” Shen Fei frowned.

“Just a coward! He likes me but doesn’t even dare to express it boldly. What kind of man is that?” Deng Xuanxuan pouted.

This…

Shen Fei hadn’t expected Deng Xuanxuan to be so straightforward. He was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, “Well, should I take a look at other people for you?”

“No need for that! Besides, if I really wanted someone to introduce me, your teacher and his wife would have started arranging it long ago!” Deng Xuanxuan shook her head.

After a pause, seeming not to want to continue with the topic, Deng Xuanxuan smiled and said, “By the way, how old is your child now? When are you going to introduce her to the family?”

“Xuanxuan, whenever you want! At that time, you can invite your teacher and his wife, and I’ll bring my wife and child. We’ll all have a good time together!” Shen Fei said.

Upon hearing this, Deng Xuanxuan’s expression became playful.

She was curious—when Han Xinyan, whom she had just met tonight, saw her again, what kind of expression would she have?

—————- END —————-

Chapter 525: What Should We Do?

After discussing the main topic, the rest of the time was spent eating, reminiscing about the past, and reflecting on the little details of family life.

However, from start to finish, Deng Xuanxuan did not mention anything about what had happened on the road that night.

The two of them casually chatted about the fragments of life from the past in this upscale restaurant, which ordinary people could never afford to dine in.

Even though this was their first meeting after several years, and their identities had changed, there was no awkwardness between them.

Shen Fei was still the same Shen Fei that Deng Xuanxuan knew, and she was still the same Deng Xuanxuan from before.

Everything seemed to have changed, yet it also seemed like nothing had changed.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

In the large conference room of the Legal Department at Tengke Corporation.

The department head, Ding Yongxing, stood at the front of the room with a heavy expression.

“I believe you all know that the lawsuit accusing Tengke of plagiarism was rejected by Yunhe Law Firm. They not only rejected our settlement proposal but also refused to withdraw the lawsuit, stating that this is Shen Fei’s stance! What do you all think about this?”

After speaking, Ding Yongxing scanned the room with his eyes.

The large conference room was filled with elite lawyers from the Legal Department of Tengke Corporation, many of whom could rank highly in China’s legal circles.

In terms of arrogance, no one was more arrogant than they were.

However, now, as they faced the questions of the Legal Department head, not a single person dared to stand up and respond to Ding Yongxing’s inquiry.

Seeing everyone silent, Ding Yongxing withdrew his gaze and spoke slowly, word by word:

“Now we know that Shen Fei is absolutely unwilling to settle, which means that our proposal for a private settlement is no longer an option! Based on the information communicated by the court, no matter how much Shen Fei is criticized publicly, even if he turns into someone everyone despises, it won’t change the fact that the court’s attitude is now leaning in his favor! With this in mind, can anyone tell me what we should do next?”

At these words, the room fell silent again, and the once proud group of lawyers lost their earlier arrogance.

What should they do next?

Hire internet trolls to slander Shen Fei and force him to withdraw the lawsuit under the pressure of a public relations crisis, thus coming to a settlement with Tengke Corporation?

Or use Tengke’s financial power to offer attractive terms and initiate a buyout of Longguang Media?

Alternatively, they could collaborate with “Tianjue” and let them take the bigger share of the profits.

All these actions would aim to force Shen Fei to withdraw the lawsuit and settle with Tengke Corporation.

But now, Shen Fei’s current attitude and the urgency of the court date made these plans unfeasible before they could even be put into action.

So, faced with the current situation and Ding Yongxing’s questioning, they were unable to offer any solutions.

“Why are you all silent?! Don’t you usually speak up eagerly? What’s going on today?” Ding Yongxing said angrily.

“Well, Ding, considering the current situation, even if Shen Fei agrees, would Yunhe Law Firm agree? This is such a great opportunity for them to make a name for themselves if they win; how could they possibly give it up? Furthermore, they have already clearly rejected our proposal…”

Elite Lawyer A finally couldn’t hold back and said, forcing himself to speak.

“Is this the best answer you could come up with after thinking for so long? I don’t want to hear this!” Ding Yongxing said in a low voice.

“Ding, didn’t we go to Yunhe Law Firm already? They didn’t even leave us time to propose our conditions; how could they possibly agree to withdraw the lawsuit?” Lawyer B frowned and said.

“Exactly, Ding, in this situation, they have already clearly shown that they intend to go head-to-head with us. As for the other two options, buying out their company or collaborating on the game, both are no longer feasible in terms of timing! If the trial is in half a month, we might still have a chance, but now there are only a few days left, even if we have a solution, there’s no time!” Lawyer C said softly.

“Who doesn’t know that?”

Hearing this, Ding Yongxing let out a helpless sigh, then looked at everyone in the room.

“If we go all-in with this lawsuit against them, what do you think our chances of winning are?”

This question had been on his mind ever since they received the court summons and learned that someone higher up was intervening in the case. But now, he could no longer avoid asking it.

“Honestly, Ding, the chances of winning are less than 0.5%!”

Lawyer A took a deep breath and then said directly.

“Given this situation, if we want to nail them down, we can only discuss the relationship between plagiarism and imitation. After all, the definitions of these two in China’s intellectual property law are still a bit unclear! If the court were still leaning in our favor, our chances would be higher, but Ding, you know that now the court is more inclined towards Yunhe Law Firm… Now we can only hope that their legal team is less competent, and maybe we still have a chance to turn things around!”

As soon as Lawyer A finished speaking, Lawyer B hurriedly said,

“We can’t put it that way. If Yunhe Law Firm were really incompetent, Shen Fei wouldn’t have let them handle the lawsuit! And even if we lose, Shen Fei can still appeal. After all, he has connections with high-ranking leaders in Beijing! With that kind of relationship, do we still have a chance of winning?”

“I agree! Whether we win or lose depends on the jury’s attitude. As Lawyer B said, they have powerful backers and are using their influence to pressure the court! In this situation, would the court be willing to sacrifice itself for us? No way! I absolutely don’t believe those people will do that!” Lawyer C frowned and said.

The three lawyers voiced their opinions, which made the atmosphere in the meeting room even heavier.

They had all thought of these things, but none of them dared to say it outright!

Now that they were talking about it openly, their already heavy hearts became even heavier.

At this point, it was clear that Tengke Corporation had no chance of winning this case.

“Ding, once we start this lawsuit with Tengke Corporation, our reputation as the undefeatable champions of the Pearl Market will be completely over! Now, we can only try our best to get them to settle with us. If there’s really no other way, then we’ll have to get Mr. Ma to step in!”

Another lawyer whispered.

Hearing this, Ding Yongxing’s face was filled with bitterness.

He had already thought of this solution himself. If he knew that going to Mr. Ma would work, why would he have called this meeting in the first place?

“The meeting is adjourned. Everyone, please leave.”