Chapter 417: He’s No Match For Me Now
“Stop. I should get home now, or I’ll get scolded again if my son smells the alcohol on me.”
With those words, Secretary He got to his feet and told Sheng Xiao, “By the way, the people I’ve introduced you tonight were straight and honest gentlemen…”
“I know.”
Secretary He clapped Sheng Xiao on the shoulder and gave him a meaningful look.
“I’m going, then…”
Sheng Xiao nodded, and escorted Secretary He from the private room with Mu Qiqi.
After all the other guests had left, she could not help exclaiming, “I’ve seen a good few of these men on tv, but now that I really know them, I realize why these VIPs are so worthy of respect.”
Sheng Xiao smiled and was about to bring Mu Qiqi home, only to run into Sheng Kai who had been receiving his own guests and was about to pay the bill at the front desk as well.
Gu Ziling was standing beside him, and it appeared that the couple was treating some of Huang Yao’s partners to dinner for their wedding.
It was the first time Sheng Xiao met his brother since leaving Huang Yao outside of the Sheng family’s house.
And in contrast to his former flamboyance, Sheng Xiao appeared much calmer right now.
Sheng Kai therefore assumed that he was hard-pressed for cash and had to put away his highbrow side. To be fair, how could he have known the people whom Sheng Xiao was just meeting?
Without looking at them further, Sheng Xiao simply whipped out his gold card and told the front desk, “Bill, please.”
“Allow me.” Sheng Kai pushed away Sheng Xiao’s gold card. “You have no income after you’ve left the family. This one’s on me, but you shouldn’t come to high-class hotels like this anymore.”
Mu Qiqi felt that Sheng Kai seemed to be misunderstanding something there…
Sheng Xiao, however, simply nodded. “That goes without saying since you are the CEO of Huang Yao now.”
“Wasn’t this the path you chose?” Sheng Kai continued while footing the bill. “And it’s best if you don’t show up around Grandfather. You know very well how much he hates you now.”
That was when the front desk employee told them, “I’m sorry, but it seems that someone has already settled this bill.”
After all, Secretary He had gotten his assistant to handle it.
As such, Sheng Kai did not get his wish to steal Sheng Xiao’s thunder.
“Well, there’s always next time since you like paying for me.”
With that, Sheng Xiao winked at Mu Qiqi. “Let’s go.”
Holding back her urge to laugh, Mu Qiqi nodded at Sheng Kai. “See you.”
“Eighth Brother, it’s rare we run into each other out here. Should we have a few drinks?” Sheng Kai asked then.
“Forget it. I shouldn’t embarrass the CEO of Huang Yao since I’m so poor.”
With that, the pair left.
Through it all, Gu Ziling had stood by Sheng Kai’s side and observing Sheng Xiao. Just as expected, he was now no more than a bumpkin after losing his halo of being Crown Prince, and had to be greedy even for the bill for a meal.
In comparison, Sheng Kai appeared to be a notch above him now.
As for Sheng Kai, was he really sincere in helping Sheng Xiao?
Not quite.
All he wanted to do was to use that lunch money to humiliate and mock Sheng Xiao.
Just look at how well-off the man himself had been before. Now?
He was wagging his tail and begging for meals!
***
Only Mu Qiqi alone knew how much she wanted to laugh out loud—her man’s talent for cunning tricks was truly infinite.
He was only too pleased that someone was willing to pay for his stuff.
“Such a pity that Secretary He paid for it…” Sheng Xiao said in regret.
“You just don’t know how I almost couldn’t keep it together.” Mu Qiqi said, finally laughing out loud when she got in their car. “Still, it proves what Third Brother said about how Second Brother has changed.”
“He wasn’t thinking about paying for us at all. All he wanted to do was use that bill to humiliate you.”
“The good opinion I had towards him before are all gone now.”
“How does that even matter?”
The pair simply acted as if they were watching a comedy and returned home in good spirits.
***
Once Sheng Kai returned home, he told Third Brother about meeting Sheng Xiao at the hotel.
“I think Eighth Brother couldn’t afford to spend money lavishly soon. I almost didn’t recognize him when I saw him… to think that the once infinitely well-off Crown Prince ended up like that.”
“That’s why I wanted to foot the bill for him.”
“So, you’re saying that you met Eighth Brother at a hotel and even wanted to pay his bill?” Third Brother looked like he was enjoying a drama.
“Yes. He didn’t refuse it either.”
Oh, please. How smart was Sheng Xiao? He was earning millions from his business at Zhongteng, and it would actually be surprising if he didn’t accept someone giving him money.
“Third Brother, I’m really wondering now that perhaps our family had put him on too high a pedestal and worshipped him like he was a god. But tonight, he…”
“Wagged his tail and begged you for alms, right?”
Oh, no.
Third Brother thought just then that he would get stitches for laughing. Only the Sheng family would believe that offering Sheng Xiao boons were a way of getting even against him.
Please, there is just no telling how happy he is if someone pays for his bill, alright?
“Yeah. I won’t treat him as a rival, after all… He’s no match for me now.”
“Alright, Second Brother, I got it. I’m tired from working all day, so I’m going to my room to rest.”
Most importantly, Third Brother felt that he wouldn’t be able to control his laughter if he kept listening to him.
“Go, then.” Sheng Kai assumed that his sibling was taking Sheng Xiao’s side, and therefore couldn’t bear to hear him grumble.
Moreover, it wasn’t just him who thought that Sheng Xiao’s legend is a thing of the past now. Even Gu Ziling was seriously disappointed in him—where had the dominance he showed on Old Sheng’s birthday disappeared to?
As she expected, a man was mundane and average once he loses power and influence.
With that, she got some peace of mind in marrying Sheng Kai…
Of course, Old Sheng naturally heard about Sheng Kai’s humiliation of Sheng Xiao as well, and was in indescribably good spirits at the breakfast table next morning.
Third Brother couldn’t help keeping his head low and eat.
Could stupidity really be infectious?
“Your wedding is in a few days. Sheng Kai, you should visit the Xu mansion personally to invite your Fourth Sister and Jing Yun to the ceremony, and also talk to them about their own wedding.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” Sheng Kai promised.
***
Jing Yun had recently been busy repairing the damage Xu Yihong and his father had inflicted upon Xu Holdings, which was why did not pay much attention to what happened around Sheng Xiao. All he knew was whatever Sheng Minglan mentioned when he returned home each day.
Nonetheless, Sheng Kai visited the Xu Mansion with gifts and a written invitation with Gu Ziling in the evening.
However, he appeared rather awkward since Jing Yun had once been close to the Sheng family.
“I hope you won’t keep a grudge regardless of Grandfather’s mistakes in the past. You are my brother-in-law now after all.”
“Don’t worry, Second Brother. Minglan and I would be there at your wedding punctually.” Jing Yun kept him at arm’s reach despite his courteous words.