Drip, drip, drip—
After a long ring, his father's cold voice came through, "Hello."
"Dad, why did you sell the company?"
Shi Jinsong was silent for a few seconds, then said indifferently, "These stocks were originally yours."
Shi Xinxin's eyes widened. "Dad, this is the inheritance you left me. I can't take it!"
"I am your father, and it's only right to leave it to you." Shi Jinsong's voice was tinged with fatigue. "You are still young, and you have your own path to walk."
"Dad, I..." Shi Xinxin's eyes welled up with tears.
"Stop calling," Shi Jinsong said, hanging up the phone.
Shi Xinxin cried, burying her face in the table and sobbing.
A classmate beside her comforted her, "Xinxin, don't be sad. Your dad is so kind, he must have his reasons for doing anything."
"That's right," another classmate chimed in. "Your dad would never harm you. You should trust him."
Shi Xinxin sobbed, her eyes red.
"Xinxin," Shi Jiaqi walked up to her, "Stop crying."
"Jiaqi," Shi Xinxin, feeling wronged, threw herself into Shi Jiaqi's arms. "Wuwuwu... Jiaqi, I feel so awful."
"It's okay, don't worry," Shi Jiaqi patted Shi Xinxin's back. "Everything will pass."
On the weekend, at the Imperial Grand Hotel, a five-star hotel under Sheng Corporation.
Shi Jinsong, arm in arm with his wife, walked into the banquet hall hand in hand.
"Mr. Shi, congratulations! You truly are a hidden dragon, a crouching tiger!"
"Yes, yes, congratulations!"
Lu Mingyu, following beside his parents, nodded to the guests.
"Mrs. Shi, your skin is so well-maintained."
"Oh, no, no..." Shen Manrong giggled shyly.
Shi Jinsong put his arm around his wife's shoulders and led her to their seats.
Their seats were near the entrance.
Shi Jinsong looked around, but didn't see his daughter.
"Where's Xinxin? Hasn't she arrived yet?" Shen Manrong asked her husband.
"She's probably still at school," Shi Jinsong said. "She's usually punctual with school."
Shen Manrong shook her head and said, "It's the weekend, she definitely didn't go to school. I'll go look for her."
"Don't bother," Shi Jinsong stopped Shen Manrong. "She's grown up, she can take care of herself. Don't you remember what we discussed? Let her fall in love freely, without interference."
"Alas," Shen Manrong sighed helplessly. "It's a pity. Xinxin is so beautiful and sensible. If she marries a good husband, she'll surely be happy in the future."
Shi Jinsong pursed his lips. "Fate is unpredictable."
"I hope Xinxin meets the right person."
Just as Shen Manrong finished speaking, she saw a familiar figure walking in from outside.
"It's Xinxin, look, she's here!" Shen Manrong exclaimed excitedly.
Shi Jinsong looked up at the sound, saw his daughter walking towards him with a radiant smile.
Shi Xinxin sat down. "Dad, Mom."
Shen Manrong held her daughter's hand, scrutinizing her expression.
"Dad, Mom, you don't need to worry about me, I'm fine," Shi Xinxin said with a smile. "I'm not angry with you anymore."
Seeing her parents' haggard appearance, she felt immense pain.
"Silly girl," Shen Manrong stroked her daughter's head and said with relief, "Xinxin, your parents raised you well."
Shi Xinxin smiled and hugged Shen Manrong. "Dad, Mom, thank you."
"Oh my! How touching!" Suddenly, a sharp, piercing voice rang out.
A young, beautiful girl walked in, heavily made-up, her face filled with disdain as she scanned everyone present. Her gaze paused on Shen Manrong. "Mrs. Shi, is this your daughter?"
Shi Xinxin heard the unfamiliar voice and looked up, seeing a strange yet sharp-featured face. "Excuse me, do we know each other?"
The girl haughtily raised her chin. "Heh! Of course, I don't know the likes of you!"
Shi Xinxin frowned. "Who are you?"
"Who am I? You don't even know me?" The girl sneered, curling her red lips and pointing at Shi Xinxin. "Your father sold his company shares, and now he owes sixty million. Our family wants to collect the money for the shares your father sold."
"My father sold shares, not money," Shi Xinxin said. "Besides, even if he sold shares, it has nothing to do with our family!"
The girl snorted, raising her chin. "I'll tell you, I bought the shares your father sold. This debt must be settled!"
Shi Xinxin was stunned.
"You're lying!" she retorted. "These shares were earned by Dad through hard work. How could you have bought them?"
"Why couldn't I have bought them?" the girl said arrogantly. "Your father signed a transfer agreement, and I acquired them with money."
Shi Xinxin gritted her teeth.
She hadn't expected her father to sell the shares to someone else.
The girl added, "You don't need to find it strange. Your father's biggest dream in life was to make you a socialite, wasn't it? He certainly wouldn't want to see you marry a poor boy. My buying his shares perfectly fits his expectations!"
Shi Xinxin clenched her fists, trembling with anger.
So, her father had always wanted to use her to gain more wealth. How could she have trusted him so much!
"Xinxin, be good, don't cry." Shi Jinsong gently wiped Shi Xinxin's tears, coaxing her. "Dad promised you, he will never leave your side again."
Shi Xinxin held back her tears and nodded. "Yes, I believe you."
"Xinxin, why did you run out?"
At this moment, a deep, pleasant voice sounded.
Shi Xinxin turned her head and saw a man standing behind her.
The man was wearing a black tuxedo. The well-tailored suit accentuated his tall, imposing figure. He was incredibly handsome.
"Young Master Sheng!"
"My goodness, it's Young Master Sheng!"
"Who is he? How did he get here?"
Everyone stared at Sheng Chenjin in astonishment, their gazes filled with envy and jealousy.
Shi Xinxin froze for a moment before slowly speaking, "A classmate of mine, Sheng Chenjin."
Sheng Chenjin raised an eyebrow. "Shi Xinxin?"
"You know me?"
Sheng Chenjin didn't answer, merely smiled. "You seem to be afraid of me?"
"Who said that!" Shi Xinxin immediately denied it, then explained, "Because you're too handsome, I don't dare to look at you too much."
"Oh?" Sheng Chenjin asked with interest. "More handsome than me?"
"Not quite," Shi Xinxin answered honestly. "After all, people's aesthetic preferences are different!"
"Hahaha..." A few chuckles echoed around.
Sheng Chenjin looked at the girl's exquisite and beautiful face, his eyes flickering.
"Young Master Sheng, hello." Shi Jinsong greeted with a smile, extending his right hand.
Sheng Chenjin politely shook it.
Then, Sheng Chenjin looked at Shen Manrong and Shi Jinsong.
"Uncle and Auntie, hello. My name is Sheng Chenjin, and I'm Xinxin's friend." He said elegantly and gentlemanly, extending his right hand and clasping Shi Jinsong's.