Age of Legends

Chapter 319 Not Acceptable

Sometimes life is mundane and uneventful; human life is short, so short that sometimes when you look back, decades have passed in the blink of an eye. Other times it is very long, so long that we find all sorts of ways to while away our lives, living a life of pleasure and debauchery.

As for ordinary people, why do so many outsiders really care about the current situation of Shen Mingbo's company, and whether it can even stay afloat?
They appeared before us simply because of a real-life twist that was even more real than anything in drama or novel.

Ning Wenjing was only the director of the Literature and Art Department of the Propaganda Department, and Shen Mingbo's factory only made a few hundred thousand yuan in profit a year. In terms of official rank, she was no match for some of the elders in the Ning family, and in terms of wealth, she was no match for the Qin family's business.

But they became the focus of attention because they had an outstanding daughter, Shen Nuoyi. Shen Nuoyi was beautiful from a young age, and her academic performance was among the best in the family. She was very likely to be the one to enter the highest university in the family's history.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad, but it also implicated another outstanding young man named Pei Yan. Adults tend to prioritize social standing and background when choosing a partner. In this respect, Pei Yan was already at the very top. His family was worth hundreds of millions in this era, their business was expanding rapidly, and their future prospects were limitless. In addition, he was the top student at Rongcheng's premier private aristocratic school. All of this naturally attracted countless envious glances from the general public.

At this time, there happens to be a young man who admires another. If the two were to become a couple, they would very likely create a beautiful story in the future.

A so-called "legend" is a beautiful story that everyone agrees on and cherishes.

But now, it seems that the heroine's willfulness has pushed away this once-in-eight-generation opportunity for an ordinary family, an opportunity so closely tied to the Pei family. What difference is there between this and smashing a priceless antique?

That's why this kind of thing spreads so widely and attracts so much attention, drawing all sorts of eyes to it.

How much I envied you before, now I sigh with regret, and some people can't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude. Because that's how things are; not many people really want you to far surpass them or have better innate advantages and later in life.

Of course, what everyone is openly concerned about now is Shen Mingbo's company, but what everyone is really thinking is why Shen Nuoyi was so foolish.

Or rather, we should do everything we can to repair and improve our relationship with the Pei family.

It's just that saying these things directly would be considered vulgar, but the interests involved are too great, and everyone involved would think or hint at it in this way.

In fact, Shen Mingbo was well aware of all this, but at this moment, he raised his glass and changed the subject for these relatives who had unspoken thoughts in their hearts: "Of course, since everyone is so concerned, I will speak frankly today. The company's cash flow is indeed tight. Qin An, if you have any money, lend me one or two million for working capital. I will give you the principal and interest at the end of the year, and at the highest interest rate offered by the bank."

Qin An was stunned for a moment, and before he could speak, his wife Ning Wenhua spoke up: "All our funds are tied up in the project, and we really can't come up with any cash."

Qin An was also a little embarrassed, and after saying some polite words, he basically agreed with his wife's statement that "that's exactly how it is."

Shen Mingbo then turned to Qin Tangxi's second uncle, Qin Yu, "Qin Yu, do you have any?"

Qin Yu said, "Oh dear, the market is bad right now, everyone is strapped for cash... We have to settle accounts at the end of the year, and our funds are all tied up."

When Shen Mingbo looked at the other relatives.

They all declined. "Of course we want to help, but unfortunately we're facing difficulties here too."

"Here's what we'll do. I have some money on me, but I definitely can't come up with that much, just ten or twenty thousand. You don't need to pay me back, just use it if you can..."

The group kept passing the buck, but no one actually agreed to help Shen Mingbo with the one or two million yuan funding shortfall.

They do have their concerns. When things are going well, lending this money might be fine; everyone can even earn interest. But now it's a matter of whether you can get out of this mess. One or two million is a huge sum for anyone. They're not in a position to just throw the money away. The key question is, what if they can't get through this? If Shen Mingbo goes bankrupt, are they really going to swallow their pride and ask him to mortgage the factory equipment to get the money back? It's very likely they'll have given up!

Seeing everyone's attitude, Shen Mingbo remained calm and gentle. Finally, he raised his glass and smiled slightly, "Alright, Third Uncle, I don't want your money either. Haha, I was just saying it casually. If you want to borrow money, that's easy. There are plenty of ways. You can even use assets as collateral. What I'm saying is that money isn't the most important thing. The next big thing is the transformation! Don't worry, I can get through this myself. I still have to figure these things out on my own."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, but no one dared to voice their doubts further. "Otherwise, why don't you lend me some money?"
They also knew that Shen Mingbo probably didn't really want to borrow money; he was just using this method to shut everyone up.

After the dinner ended, everyone left the restaurant. Qin An went to the parking lot to get his car, while Qin Tangxi stood next to Shen Nuoyi, "Sister..."

She was filled with anxiety. At this moment, she was standing next to Shen Nuoyi, but she had been observing her throughout the meal. To outsiders, she was the composed, aloof, and unflappable "other people's child." At the table, she appeared calm and dignified, her back straight, as if all the rumors and gossip could not shake her in the slightest. But it was precisely this calmness that made Qin Tangxi feel an indescribable heartache.

The gossip at school, the seemingly caring but actually probing words from her family, her parents' outwardly strong response... all these pressures weighed heavily on Shen Nuoyi's shoulders.

Then Qin Tangxi suddenly said, "You... does he know about this sacrifice? Was your choice worth it?"

Yes, for Qin Tangxi, wasn't this a sacrifice? Shen Nuoyi originally had a bright future ahead of him, with Pei Yan, the school heartthrob from the foreign language school, backed by the Taixun Group, and his family was bound to have a smooth and successful life. But it was precisely because of Zhang Chen's sudden intervention that the outcome Qin Tangxi feared most finally occurred.

Because she will no longer have the double protection of Pei Yan and Shen Nuoyi. Even her own cousin will fall from grace.

And all of this started because of that wrong choice.

Qin Tangxi admitted that Zhang Chen was special, and perhaps he really could attract her cousin. But her cousin was so confused!
But after she finished speaking, she didn't receive comfort from her cousin.

Instead, she slightly opened her almond-shaped eyes and looked at her with a look that was completely different from the coldness she had maintained throughout the entire dinner.

"What are you talking about? What does this have to do with him?"

After a pause, Shen Nuoyi didn't look at her again, but her voice came through, "When did Pei Yan and I have to have a result? Who arranged this? If this is really an arrangement, then I..."

"We will not accept it!"

(End of this chapter)