It’s Not Okay to Kiss Me as Soon as We Meet (ABO) - Chapter 11

Shen Li said, “Mm, I understand. Thank you for the reminder.” She thanked Guan Xi.

Guan Xi fell silent for a moment and then spoke. “Li Li, do not get discouraged, and do not doubt yourself. Stay on.”

Shen Li felt a slight warmth in her heart. Adding flowers to brocade was easy; sending charcoal in snow was hard. She noted this favor.

Lin Huaiyi eyed Shen Li’s gradually darkening expression and knew things were not progressing smoothly. She waited patiently for Shen Li to speak.

Shen Li hung up the phone, paused for a moment, and let out a breath.

Shen Li: “I guessed earlier that they might contact Yamamoto in advance. People from Shen Corporation’s public relations department have already sent two emails to Yamamoto Corporation, but we have not received a reply yet. It confirms my guess. They plan to stall until the three-day deadline passes.”

At that moment, the internal line in the office rang. Special Assistant Yang reported to Shen Li on Shen Corporation Group’s stock market situation today.

Special Assistant Yang: “President Shen, it hit the limit down again today.”

Shen Li took a deep breath, held back the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose, and opened the news website. She clearly saw in the hottest news section: “Shen Corporation Stock Hits Limit Down, No Response Yet on Infringement Incident!”

The internal line rang again. On the phone, Shen Yan’s oily voice came through.

Shen Yan: “Li Li, today is already the second day. Have you found any leads? If you beg your brother, I can reluctantly help you out.”

A strange woman’s voice sounded from the other end of the phone. “A Yan~ Who are you talking to? I am getting jealous.”

Shen Yan did not know what unseemly thing he was doing in his office; it sounded chaotic and smoky.

Shen Li irritably wanted to hang up the phone. Shen Yan laughed loudly. “Sister, listen to your brother. Just admit defeat, bow your head, and brother will handle it all for you.”

Shen Li keenly detected something off in Shen Yan’s words and asked coldly, “Shen Yan, what exactly do you know?”

Shen Yan clearly paused, then covered it with exaggerated laughter. “You Omega, always so fierce. Even if brother wants to help you find a good match, it seems I will have to put in some effort.”

Shen Li had no interest in listening to his nonsense and hung up directly.

Shen Li looked toward Lin Huaiyi sitting on the sofa and said firmly, “Shen Yan definitely knows something. This confirms some of my guesses; he cannot escape involvement in this matter.”

Lin Huaiyi nodded in agreement and analyzed. “Mm, from what we see now, the biggest beneficiaries of this are Shen Yan and his father. But these vague pieces of information are not useful. Right now, the urgent matter is still to contact the people at Yamamoto.”

Lin Huaiyi thought for a moment and continued. “Shen Li, can you arrange visas for the two of us to Japan within today?”

Shen Li asked in confusion, “You mean we go there directly?”

Lin Huaiyi: “Yes. You handle the visas and flights. We must land in Japan tomorrow morning. Leave the rest to me.”

Shen Li’s eyebrows knitted together. She felt a bit panicked by Lin Huaiyi’s sudden arrangement and raised her doubts. “But even if we go to Japan, we may not be able to meet the people at Yamamoto. The public relations department’s emails are negotiations on behalf of Shen Corporation, and the other side currently shows no intention of replying. If we go rashly without an appointment, they may refuse to see us, and we might end up returning empty-handed.”

Lin Huaiyi stared into Shen Li’s eyes, steadying her emotions, her tone firm. “Are you willing to believe me? Let us try. Besides, right now, there is no other good way, is there?”

Shen Li opened her mouth to retort but could not think of anything to say and nodded inexplicably.

Lin Huaiyi showed a slight smile and said, “Mm, then once you handle the visas and flights, contact me. We will meet directly at the airport tonight.”

After leaving Shen Li’s office, Lin Huaiyi called Uncle Tuo. “Uncle Tuo, I have urgent business and want to see my dad. Can you help arrange it?”

Uncle Tuo checked Lin’s father’s schedule and replied, “President Lin is still chairing a meeting now and is expected to end in half an hour. If you need it, I can arrange twenty minutes for you.”

This was perhaps the helplessness of those in high positions. Even for parents and children, the closest of kin, meeting required an appointment. In fact, the higher the position, the less time allocated to family.

Lin Huaiyi got the affirmative reply and felt much more at ease in her heart; at least the first step went smoothly. She said to the other end of the phone, “Alright, then thank you Uncle Tuo. I will wait for him in my dad’s office in twenty minutes.”

Lin Huaiyi left the Shen Corporation Group building and took a taxi to Lin Corporation. In the back seat of the taxi, Lin Huaiyi tried to calm her mind, closed her eyes, and flipped through the original owner’s past memories.

The previous Lin Huaiyi had not grasped much about company matters, but she knew Lin Corporation cooperated with Yamamoto, so through Lin’s father, she should be able to contact the decision-maker at Yamamoto.

Lin Huaiyi felt helpless. Her original plan had been to leave Lin Corporation first and gradually detach from ties with it. After all, she was an independent individual. In her previous life, she had been without support, without ties. In this life, she also had no intention of accepting the glory brought by the original owner’s family, nor the restraints behind that glory.

However, things did not go as she thought. To detach from Lin Corporation, she came to work at Shen Corporation, and now, because of Shen Li’s matter, she had to go back and ask Lin’s father.

Lin Huaiyi did not know if this was fate’s arrangement or what, but as someone who had experienced quite a bit, she had long passed the age where she had to fight against fate.

Lin Huaiyi convinced herself that since she had decided to help Shen Li, she should not think about these extraneous things. Sometimes, overthinking only led to hesitation, which did no good for advancing matters.

Half an hour later, she successfully met Lin’s father in the Lin Corporation Group office as she wished.

Lin Feng looked well-preserved. Though already over fifty, he still had a head of jet-black hair and appeared full of vigor.

Lin Huaiyi’s appearance resembled her mother more, inheriting her mother’s peach blossom eyes and widow’s peak. Lin Feng’s features were more imposing, with distinct contours and extraordinary heroism.

When he saw his daughter, Lin Feng spoke first. “Xiao Yi, Uncle Tuo said you had important business with me?”

Perhaps because he had just chaired a meeting, Lin Feng was still in his authoritative professional state and had not switched to doting father mode.

Lin Huaiyi steeled herself. “Yes, I asked Uncle Tuo, and I booked twenty minutes of your time.”

Lin Feng nodded, gesturing for Lin Huaiyi to continue.

Lin Huaiyi: “Dad, does our company cooperate with Japan’s Yamamoto?”

Lin Feng’s probing gaze came over.

Lin Feng: “Xiao Yi, I did not expect you to know about these things. Did you not always show no interest in company affairs before? I did not think that after just a few days at Shen Corporation, you grew up.”

Lin Feng suddenly stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the entire A City, hands in his pockets.

Lin Feng did not turn back and spoke from the window. “Xiao Yi, you were always dissatisfied with me sending you to business school before, saying you just wanted to quietly be a painter. But you entered business school, studied very well, and did not disappoint my expectations at all.”

He paused, then Lin Feng continued. “Haha, I still remember when you were born, you were just that tiny little bundle. Your mom and I did not dare touch you; you were so small.” As he spoke, Lin Feng turned back toward Lin Huaiyi and gestured with his hand.

Lin Feng needed no response from Lin Huaiyi and continued on his own.

Lin Feng: “You were always very likable and always made us very proud. I still remember the first time I saw you in the delivery room, still wrapped in swaddling clothes. At that time, I had just become a father and had no real sense of it. I do not know if it was bl00d ties or what, but as soon as you saw me, you smiled, then stretched out your little hand and grasped one of my fingers. I was really shocked then; I had become a father.”

Lin Huaiyi noticed that Lin Feng’s straight back seemed to stoop a little.

Lin Feng turned back and continued. “You were predicted by the doctor to differentiate into an Alpha, but you delayed differentiating. Outside, there were rumors that if you were not an Alpha, we would consider other heirs. From that time, you started becoming silent, staying alone every day.”

For some reason, listening to Lin Feng describe the past, which should have been warm content, made Lin Huaiyi’s heart surge with intense unease.

Lin Feng turned around, his gaze sharp, staring straight at Lin Huaiyi. “But from the day you differentiated, you changed completely. Someone told me you were doing well at Shen Corporation. Today, you even came to Lin Corporation in the middle of a workday—this is the first time you have come to see me on a workday since you became an adult.”

Lin Feng’s scrutinizing gaze made Lin Huaiyi feel like she could not breathe, standing in place unable to utter a word.

Lin Feng’s voice softened. “You are not the little Yi from before, are you?”

After hearing this from Lin Feng, Lin Huaiyi instantly felt her scalp tingle and was speechless. The Lin Huaiyi who had thought, having lived two lives, that she was mature and seasoned now stood before Lin Feng like a child who had been seen through.

Nervous, awkward, wanting to say something, but stuck before the first syllable, realizing her throat was so dry.

Lin Feng waved his hand, his gaze seeming to soften a bit. “You do not need to say anything. Perhaps you do not recognize the little Yi from before. If it were the little Yi from before, she would absolutely not propose leaving Lin Corporation.” Lin Feng smiled helplessly.

Lin Feng: “I noticed something off the day you differentiated. After that, you proposed moving out alone, living very independently and progressively, like a different person from the silent little Yi before. Before you came today, I still held a sliver of hope that the little Yi from before was still there, and everything was just because of differentiation.”

Lin Feng gave a wry smile. “But your reaction has already told me; you are indeed not the little Yi from before.”

Lin Feng: “Who exactly are you?”

Lin Feng’s momentum went from strong to waning to gentle and rational. Lin Huaiyi felt a trace of sorrow. This sorrow was not what she felt but what this body had left behind, as if the previous Lin Huaiyi was grieving.

Lin Huaiyi steadied her mind and spoke. “Mr. Lin, you are right; I am indeed not the Lin Huaiyi from before. Because this matter is too abnormal, I did not tell you and Mrs. Lin in time, which was my fault. I apologize to you.”

Lin Huaiyi did not know what to say to a father who had lost his daughter.

After getting Lin Huaiyi’s affirmative reply, Lin Feng seemed to let out a breath. The doubt in his heart had finally become fact, and Lin Feng turned back into that strong and composed businessman.

Lin Feng: “Why not tell me the purpose of your visit today.”

Lin Huaiyi felt some shame. After all, what she sought required Lin Feng to help her rival. But thinking of Shen Li, who was anxiously waiting at this moment, Lin Huaiyi had to try. If Lin Feng was willing to help, the favor she owed to Lin Corporation could be repaid in a way Lin Corporation recognized in the future.

Lin Huaiyi spoke. “Mr. Lin, it is like this. I wonder if you have paid attention to Shen Corporation’s news these past two days. Shen Corporation is now suspected of infringing on patent technology from Japan’s Yamamoto Corporation. Shen Corporation wants to make amends now but cannot contact Yamamoto. My department leader Shen Li has been given a three-day deadline to produce a solution, and now little time remains, so I want to request your help to give Shen Li a chance to contact Yamamoto’s top management.”

The slightly stooped Lin Feng from earlier had vanished. The shrewd and capable businessman was back. Having overheard some of Shen Corporation’s internal news, Lin Feng felt quite interested.

Lin Feng smiled at the corner of his mouth and spoke. “Shen Li, that old fellow Shen Jun’s daughter, right? A few years ago, I met her once; that girl was really something. Before, I regretted that your uncle Shen and I have been rivals for years, so it was not good to mention wanting his daughter as a daughter-in-law. Now it seems not impossible.” He gave Lin Huaiyi a rather enigmatic glance.

Lin Huaiyi was just about to retort when Lin Feng did not give her the chance and continued.

Lin Feng: “In business, it is business. You want me to help you; what can you give me?”

Lin Huaiyi knew full well she had nothing now, empty-handed. But since Lin Feng asked this way, it meant there was room to negotiate.

She said respectfully, “Mr. Lin, what do you want? Why not tell me and see.”