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Su Ning and Lan Qianyi were having a great time in the pool when a clear female voice suddenly came from the poolside: "Su Ning! I knew you were here!"

The two looked up at the same time and were both stunned.

Standing by the pool was none other than Li Shiyan.

She was wearing a red two-piece swimsuit, the style of which wasn't particularly revealing, but it perfectly accentuated her slender figure...

Her figure was shapely, her skin was fair and radiant under the pool lights, and her long, wet hair cascaded over her shoulders, giving her a healthy and bright glow.

Lan Qianyi's first reaction was to be wary. Who was this woman?

How do I get to know Suning?

And why did he speak so familiarly?

Su Ning was also a little surprised, but he quickly recovered and pulled Lan Qianyi to the edge of the pool: "Shiyan? What are you doing here?"

“My dad owns shares in this resort, and I often come here to relax on weekends.” Li Shiyan squatted down, smiling at them. “I heard your company is having a team-building event today, so I guessed you might come to the pool. How about that, was I right?”

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Lan Qianyi, her eyes holding just the right amount of curiosity: "And who is this?"

Su Ning immediately introduced, "This is my girlfriend, Lan Qianyi, a colleague of mine."

He then turned to Lan Qianyi, "Qianyi, this is Li Shiyan, President Li's daughter."

Lan Qianyi was shocked. President Li's daughter? Li Shensi's daughter?

She quickly adjusted her expression and gave a polite smile: "Hello, Ms. Li."

"Just call me Shiyan." Li Shiyan smiled as she looked Lan Qianyi up and down, a hint of complexity in her smile. "Qianyi, is that right? I've heard Sun Yiqiu mention you before, saying you're a key member of Group Four and very capable."

"Sun Yiqiu?" Lan Qianyi was slightly surprised. "You know Sun Yiqiu?"

“Yes! I’m Xiaoxiao’s kindergarten teacher.” Li Shiyan said naturally. “Sun Yiqiu has helped Mr. Wu pick up Xiaoxiao a few times, and we’ve even played games with the children together.”

As she spoke, she naturally took off her blouse and glided lightly into the pool.

Amidst the rippling water, the red swimsuit stood out strikingly against the shimmering surface.

Lan Qianyi maintained a smile on her face, but alarm bells were ringing in her heart.

She keenly sensed that Li Shiyan's attitude towards Su Ning was unusual...

That familiar and intimate tone, that natural sense of closeness, is definitely more than just that of ordinary friends.

Moreover, Li Shiyan's qualities are indeed outstanding...

She is beautiful, has a good figure, comes from a prominent family, and is a gentle and approachable kindergarten teacher.

Such women have a natural attraction to any man.

Lan Qianyi subconsciously looked at Su Ning, wanting to observe his reaction.

Su Ning's expression was natural as he swam between the two: "Since we've run into each other, let's play together. Shi Yan, how's your swimming?"

"It's alright, I learned it when I was little," Li Shiyan said.

They naturally swam to the other side of Suning, flanking him with Lan Qianyi on either side.

This awkward positioning made Lan Qianyi even more uncomfortable.

"Qianyi, you swim so well," Li Shiyan praised, "Have you practiced specifically for this?"

"No, it's just a hobby," Lan Qianyi said, trying to keep her voice calm.

“That’s still pretty impressive.” Li Shiyan said sincerely. “I’m not so good at it. I can only do the breaststroke, and I’m slow at it.”

As she spoke, she deliberately swam a little clumsily, splashing water everywhere.

Su Ning naturally reached out and helped her up, saying, "Be careful."

Lan Qianyi saw this subtle movement clearly.

She pursed her lips and said nothing.

After Li Shiyan steadied herself, she smiled at Su Ning and said, "Thank you! By the way, when your dad had dinner with my dad last time, he mentioned that we should arrange a time for both families to get together. When are you free recently?"

The implication is now clearer: two families gathering—what does that mean?
Lan Qianyi's heart sank. She looked at Su Ning, waiting for his answer.

Su Ning maintained her calm expression: "I've been quite busy with projects lately, let's wait a while."

There was no explicit refusal, but neither was there an agreement.

Li Shiyan didn't seem to mind and readily agreed, "Okay, then you set the time. Anyway, my dad and your dad are old friends, so it's only right that they visit each other more often."

She then turned to Lan Qianyi, her tone friendly: "Qianyi, where are you from?"

"Shengzhou".

"Oh, a girl from the South!" Li Shiyan said with a smile. "No wonder you have such a gentle and quiet temperament. I'm from northern Jiangsu, but I went to university in Beijing, so I have quite a fondness for the North."

The two chatted casually like that.

On the surface, the atmosphere seemed harmonious, but Lan Qianyi could sense that every word Li Shiyan said was a test...

She was testing how far her relationship with Su Ning had progressed, and trying to gauge her importance in Su Ning's heart.

And Su Ning? She seemed completely unaware of the undercurrents between the two women, chatting with them naturally, occasionally cracking a joke or telling an interesting story, gradually warming up the atmosphere.

Lan Qianyi had to admit that Suning was very good at handling this kind of situation...

This way, Li Shiyan wouldn't feel neglected or ignored.

The sense of proportion was just right.

Gradually, Lan Qianyi was also drawn in.

She started chatting with Li Shiyan, asking her about interesting things that happened at the kindergarten and her usual hobbies.

Li Shiyan answered very frankly, especially when she talked about the children, her eyes sparkled, and you could tell that she truly loves this job.

"Actually, I really admire you," Lan Qianyi said sincerely. "Being able to persist in doing what you love and not be influenced by your family."

"Thank you." Li Shiyan smiled. "You too! I heard from Su Ning that you performed exceptionally well in Group Four, and President Wu values ​​you highly."

"Still learning, need to work harder."

As they chatted, the atmosphere really eased up a lot.

Although Lan Qianyi was still wary, she could at least maintain a friendly facade.

Su Ning watched from the sidelines, fully aware of the situation.

Knowing that Li Shiyan's appearance today was not accidental, and also aware of Lan Qianyi's vigilance and unease.

But Suning has extensive experience and is already used to such delicate situations.

In Suning's view, Li Shiyan and Lan Qianyi are two completely different types of women...

One is gentle and considerate, a perfect homemaker; the other is independent and strong-willed, a comrade-in-arms.

Each has its own advantages, and each presents its own challenges.

But Suning knew very well who he had chosen.

Therefore, remain calm and impartial, allowing the two women to interact and experience things on their own.

Tired from swimming, the three of them rested by the pool.

Li Shiyan suddenly said, "By the way, there's a bonfire party at the resort tonight, are you going to join us?"

“Yes, I went,” Lan Qianyi said. “It was an event organized by the company.”

"That's great, I'll go too." Li Shiyan looked at Su Ning, "Shall we go together?"

“Okay,” Su Ning nodded in response.

Suning, having weathered many storms, is no longer bothered by such a delicate atmosphere.

Under his leadership, the atmosphere gradually became relaxed and lively.

They chatted and laughed, played in the water and frolicked, and the subtle sense of confrontation they had felt earlier gradually dissipated.

But Lan Qianyi knew in her heart that this was only a temporary calm.

Li Shiyan's appearance is like a pebble thrown into a calm lake; ripples will inevitably spread outwards.

And she must be prepared for whatever may come next.

……

On the surface, this team building activity was supposed to be relaxing and entertaining, but in reality, it became a stage for various forces to compete.

When Li Shensi arrived, Wu Kezhi was chatting with the people from Group Four.

Li Shensi walked over naturally, greeted Wu Kezhi, and then asked casually, "Mr. Wu, I heard that Mr. Qu is here today too?"

"They said they were coming, but they haven't arrived yet," Wu Kezhi said.

Li Shensi smiled and said, "Mr. Wu, the scenery here is quite nice, shall we take a walk together?"

"Okay!"

Wu Kezhi nodded in agreement, but he knew perfectly well that Li Shensi wanted to use him to probe Qu Zhonghui's background.

Then, Li Shensi and Wu Kezhi walked along a country road near the resort. Li Shensi asked Wu Kezhi, "Mr. Wu, what do you think of Mr. Qu?"

"This……"

"This is just a normal conversation between us, there's not much formality." "President Li, actually I was promoted by President Qu, and generally speaking, President Qu is very capable."

"That……"

Just then, a black Maybach drove into the resort.

Qu Zhonghui got out of the car, dressed casually, but his imposing manner remained undiminished.

As soon as he got out of the car, he went straight to Li Shensi and Wu Kezhi.

"President Qu, you're here too?" Li Shensi said with a smile. "Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I could have arranged for someone to receive you."

"Mr. Li, you're too kind." Qu Zhonghui shook hands with him. "I just came to see everyone; there's no need to make such a fuss."

The two exchanged pleasantries seemingly warmly, but their words were subtly probing.

"What instructions has General Manager Li given to the New Business Formats Department during his stay these past few days?" Qu Zhonghui asked.

"It's not really about giving instructions," Li Shensi waved his hand. "I'm here to learn. President Qu has been managing the company for so many years and has a wealth of experience. I still have a lot to learn from you."

"Not at all, Mr. Li, you are the expert."

"By the way, I looked at the financial report for the New Business Department last year, and the returns on several projects weren't ideal." Li Shensi changed the subject. "What does President Qu think the problem lies with?"

Qu Zhonghui's expression remained unchanged: "The market environment changes rapidly, and some projects have indeed not met expectations. However, we have adjusted our strategy this year, and we believe there will be improvements."

"That's good." Li Shensi smiled. "With Director Qu overseeing things, I'm at ease."

The two exchanged barbs, appearing amicable on the surface, but secretly harboring treacherous intentions.

Everyone around him wisely kept their distance, but Wu Kezhi stubbornly stayed by his side.

On the other side, Hao Shuai was being led around by Manager Yin and General Manager Su.

"Hao Shuai, come here, take a picture of me and President Su." Manager Yin shoved his phone into Hao Shuai's hand. "Make sure it looks good! I want to post it on my WeChat Moments."

Hao Shuai had no choice but to continue working as a photographer.

Manager Yin pulled General Manager Su from the consumer goods group into various poses...

They shook hands, clinked glasses, and stood side by side, appearing very close.

"Manager Yin, is that enough?" Hao Shuai had taken more than a dozen photos, and his hand was sore.

"Take a few more pictures, take a few more pictures." Manager Yin was still not satisfied. "This angle isn't good, let's retake it."

Hao Shuai was inwardly groaning, but he still had to keep smiling.

He finally understood: Manager Yin was using the team-building opportunity to get closer to the leaders, while he, Hao Shuai, had become free labor.

What's even more infuriating is that after taking the photos, Manager Yin said, "Hao Shuai, please edit these photos later, adjust the colors, add filters, and make them look better before sending them to me."

"I...I don't know how to edit photos!"

"You'll learn it quickly," Manager Yin patted him on the shoulder. "Young man, it's never a bad thing to learn more skills."

Hao Shuai was on the verge of tears.

Gao Sicong, on the other hand, was even more frustrated.

He thought he could finally relax after revising the documents, but Jiangnan called him back again and kept him working.

The two hid in the room, editing documents, replying to emails, and answering customer calls on their laptops.

"Sicong, double-check this data," Jiangnan said. "The client wants it sent over by tonight."

"Manager Jiang, today is team building..." Gao Sicong protested softly.

"I know, but work waits for no one!" Jiang Nan said without looking up. "Hurry up and finish it, then I'll take you out to play."

As a result, it took three hours.

By the time Gao Sicong finally got out of the room, the team building activity was already halfway over.

When he found Hao Shuai and the others, they were playing paintball.

"Sicong, come quick!" Hao Shuai tossed him a laser gun. "You're the only one we're missing!"

Gao Sicong then perked up and joined the battle.

……

The most carefree one is Suning.

With Lan Qianyi on his left and Li Shiyan on his right, he strolled leisurely through the resort with two beautiful women by his side.

The three of them went to try archery first.

Li Shiyan had practiced before and achieved good results; Lan Qianyi was playing for the first time, and Su Ning patiently taught her how to hold the bow, aim, and release the arrow.

"Yes, like that, relax." Su Ning stood behind Lan Qianyi, instructing her on her posture.

Li Shiyan watched from the side, feeling a little sad, but she didn't show it.

She picked up her bow and shot an arrow that hit the bullseye.

"Wow, Shiyan is amazing!" Lan Qianyi praised sincerely.

"I was lucky," Li Shiyan said with a faint smile.

After archery, the three of them went to do pottery making.

Suning made a crooked cup, Lan Qianyi made an exquisite vase, and Li Shiyan made a small animal figurine.

“Your cup… has a lot of abstract art feel to it.” Li Shiyan couldn’t help but chuckle as she looked at Su Ning’s work.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Su Ning said, unconcerned.

Lunch was eaten at the resort's open-air restaurant.

A large table was set out with seafood barbecue, local snacks, and seasonal fruits.

The three chatted as they ate, talking about everything from work to life, from food to travel.

“I went to Norway last year and saw the Northern Lights,” Li Shiyan said. “It was incredibly beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale.”

“I’ve always wanted to go, but I haven’t had the time,” Lan Qianyi said.

“We can go together next time,” Su Ning replied. “I heard my sister has a friend who works as a tour guide there, she can make arrangements.”

"Really?" Lan Qianyi's eyes lit up.

“Of course.” Su Ning nodded.

Li Shiyan listened to their conversation, her eyes darkening slightly, but she quickly smiled again: "Then remember to call me then, I'd like to go again."

"it is good."

In the afternoon, the three of them lay on lounge chairs by the pool, sunbathing.

A gentle breeze caressed my face, the sun shone warmly, and the laughter of my colleagues drifted from afar.

"Life is so comfortable like this," Lan Qianyi said with her eyes closed. "I don't have to think about work or those worries."

“Yes!” Li Shiyan also sighed, “I’m usually too busy, with the kids making noise all the time. It’s rare to be able to relax like this.”

Su Ning didn't speak, but just quietly looked at the sky.

He knew that this tranquility was temporary.

Back at the company, I still have to face the issues...

Li Shensi's scheme, Qu Zhonghui's opposition, the internal strife within the energy group, and the subtle changes that arise between him and Lan Qianyi due to the appearance of Li Shiyan.

But at least for now, I can put everything aside for a while, enjoy the food, the sunshine, and the comfort of having two women by my side.

Although behind this comfort lies an unseen undercurrent.

After resigning from Jinchen Capital, one must consider whether to join Jianguo Group or start one's own business.

Joining the Jian Guo Group signifies the formal commencement of the struggle for succession, which may provoke even greater resistance from Su Qing and Su Ming.

Starting their own business might make Su Qing and Su Ming relax a bit, but that's only temporary. There's always some infighting in wealthy families that's hard for ordinary people to understand.

"Are you planning to perform at the bonfire party tonight?" Li Shiyan suddenly asked.

"Perform a show?" Lan Qianyi opened her eyes. "The company didn't say we had to perform?"

"It's tradition! A team-building bonfire party always needs someone to perform," Li Shiyan laughed. "I can play the guitar, what about you guys?"

"I...I'm alright at singing," Lan Qianyi said.

“Then I’ll accompany you.” Li Shiyan looked at Su Ning. “Su Ning, what about you?”

“I’ll be a spectator,” Su Ning said decisively. “I’ll applaud you.”

All three laughed.

Cheers erupted from the distant CS battlefield; it seemed Hao Shuai and his team had won.

Further away, Li Shensi and Qu Zhonghui were still having a "friendly conversation," their faces beaming with smiles and their eyes sharp.

This is team building; on the surface, it's about having fun and relaxing, but in reality, it's another battlefield.

And everyone plays their own role on this battlefield.

...(End of chapter)