Chapter 409 - 409 That, That Can't Be, Right?
409 That, That Can’t Be, Right?
Chu Qianshu stood in a daze, feeling astonished as she looked at the two of them.
Did Shen Ruojing really have an invitation letter?
Then who was she? To be able to receive an invitation and be seated in the first row?
Chu Qianshu’s gaze slowly moved across the names in front of them and eventually stopped at Professor Z’s name.
(That, that can’t be, right…)
Shen Jiayi clenched her fists and said softly, “Granduncle wouldn’t be so muddled that he arranged a seat for his lover, right? One that even came with an invitation?”
(He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t, would he?)
Although Shen Yuansong was the president of the Science Association, such an act would incur too much wrath!
However, what was it to her if Shen Yuansong was left in a bad spot?
She would be happy to see this outcome!
Shen Jiayi felt mad and jealous over how Old Master Shen was biased toward Shen Ruojing!
She felt that she was the granddaughter of the Shen Family and that Shen Yuansong was muddle-headed and had inappropriate thoughts toward Shen Ruojing!
While Chu Qianshu and Shen Jiayi were respectively immersed in their own thoughts, the security guards looked at Chu Cichen again and asked, “Sir, then where is your invitation letter?”
Chu Cichen tilted his chin slightly and said, “I’m her family member.”
The two security guards. “…”
Why did they hear a hint of pride in his words?
To be able to bring along a family member to the first row further emphasized that this girl’s identity wasn’t simple. Therefore, the security guards waited patiently. “Alright Sir, sorry to disturb you.”
Shen Ruojing had quite a number of emails in her mailbox. After all, the things she had to take care of were piling up, so she needed some time to find the invitation letter. During this time, Chu Cichen’s gaze landed on the seat next to Professor Z. There was a small nameplate that said “Professor Z’s family”.
Family… People’s understanding would be ‘husband’!
The smile on Chu Cichen’s lips deepened.
However, at the next moment, the smile on his face suddenly stiffened up as he looked at Shen Ruojing. “Before today, you didn’t know that I would be coming with you to the award ceremony, right?”
Shen Ruojing continued to look at her phone. “Nope!”
“…” Chu Cichen’s gaze landed on the word ‘family’ and then asked sourly, “Then who’s the family member that was supposed to come?”
Shen Ruojing. “???”
Even her actions of searching through her phone paused. Why wasn’t she aware that she was bringing along a family member to the award ceremony?!
Just as she was feeling puzzled, the door next to the first-row seats suddenly opened, and the people who were previously resting backstage walked out.
The first who came in was a young and unfamiliar face.
After he entered, he headed straight in Shen Ruojing and Chu Cichen’s direction. This person was Lu Hui!
After seeing Shen Ruojing, his eyes lit up and he quickly walked over to her side, looking around before saying, “You didn’t go to the resting room backstage, so I thought you wouldn’t be here!”
The award ceremony allocated a chance for Prof. Z to make a speech on stage. If Shen Ruojing didn’t come, Lu Hui would take her place as her representative.
This was how he had handled things over the years.
Moreover, Lu Hui also wanted to meet the big shots in the scientific world. Therefore, he asked for two seats from the organizer, with one in the name of Prof. Z’s family member.
At the thought of this, Lu Hui suddenly felt a cold gaze coming from the side. He slowly turned and met Chu Cichen’s gaze, which was filled with killing intent. “You’re Prof. Z’s family?”
“…” Lu Hui was shocked by Chu Cichen’s gaze and immediately explained, “Bro-in-law, normal family members count as well! I’ve always treated Boss as my older sister, so Boss’s family is also my family…”
Just as Lu Hui was trying hard to think of a conversation topic and considering how he should console this big shot, he suddenly saw the frost on Chu Cichen’s face dissipating, and his lips curled in satisfaction.
Lu Hui. “?”
Was there something he said that hit the spot?
Although Lu Hui didn’t really understand, it was fine as long as the big shot was happy. He heaved a sigh of relief and then heard Shen Ruojing say impatiently, “Where’s the invitation letter? Show it to the two security guards.”
Lu Hui wanted to take out the invitation card…
However, how could the two security guards dare to let him do so?
The big shots who were arranged to sit in the first row had all been invited backstage when they arrived with their invitation letter. Earlier on, Lu Hui had also come from there!
Therefore, the two of them quickly waved their hands and smiled. “No need, no need. This is a misunderstanding. It’s just that… There are only two seats here, but there are three of you. How will the seating arrangements be?”
Lu Hui said anxiously, “I’ll leave, I’ll leave!”
When the three of them were talking, the rest of the scientific big shots entered progressively. Shen Yuansong walked at the back, but the moment he entered, he saw Shen Ruojing.
Right now, his granddaughter was surrounded by two security guards, and they seemed to be arguing about something. Moreover, it looked like she was going to be chased away. After all, not everyone was allowed to sit in the first row!
Fearing that his granddaughter might be put in a bad spot, Shen Yuansong immediately called out loudly, “Ruojing, you came earlier?”
All the scientists. “???”
Everyone looked at Shen Yuansong in confusion, only to see the old man smile and say, “Your seat is the family member seat next to me. Hurry up and come over.”
The spot next to Shen Yuansong was originally catered for his family doctor.
After all, the award ceremony tonight wasn’t going to be very peaceful. The butler was afraid that Shen Yuansong’s body wouldn’t be able to take it and thus had the family doctor stay by his side at all times.
But now, seeing that Shen Ruojing was troubled, he had to do this as he was her grandfather.
Shen Ruojing’s lips twitched too.
Lu Hui quietly stopped his action of leaving. “Boss, what do you think?”
Shen Ruojing looked at Shen Yuansong seriously. After seeing that his complexion wasn’t good, she said, “You sit here with Mr. Chu. I’ll go over there.”
Lu Hui smiled excitedly. “Alright!”
He was very interested in such award ceremonies and didn’t want to leave.
Therefore, under everyone’s gaze, Shen Ruojing and Shen Yuansong sat at the center positions.
A commotion directly broke out.
People at the bottom each harbored different thoughts, but they had clearly misunderstood.
Chu Qianshu looked at Lu Hui and then at Chu Cichen before turning back to Shen Ruojing. She had sorted through the course of events. So, Lu Hui, was Prof. Z? Her older brother’s company had cooperation with Prof. Z, which was why he could get a seat with him.
As for her sis-in-law… not only did she not avoid the person with whom she had a scandal, but she even sat together with him?!
Chu Qianshu didn’t understand the situation, but she somehow heaved a sigh of relief.
What rubbish was she thinking about earlier?
How could that unlearned woman be Prof. Z? She must have thought too much!
At this moment, Shen Jiayi, who was behind her, started cursing. “Shameless! What right does she have to be Granduncle’s family?! Granduncle is muddle-headed!”
She clenched her fists tightly.
She was the Shen Family’s young miss! But why was all the treatment meant for the Shen Family’s young miss now all given to Shen Ruojing?!
All the other scientists started talking amongst themselves too.
“Lord! To think that the scandal between President Shen and that young lady is true!”
“Of course! If it wasn’t true, would he let her take the family seat? That girl can’t possibly be her granddaughter, right?”
“My God! Isn’t that too shameless?! Their age gap is almost 60 years, and they are like grandfather and granddaughter. To think that they are sitting together so blatantly like this?! Moreover, isn’t this girl with that guy earlier? Why is their circle so messy?!”
“… In the past, I’ve always thought that President Shen was a role model in the scientific world. He always convinced us with the way he did things. But this time around, why is he so muddle-headed?! Just because she is his lover, does he think that he can bring her to the award ceremony?! Does he know that this is an insult to science!?”
“I originally thought that although President Shen might not be morally correct, his contribution to science is undeniable. Therefore, I wanted to give my vote to him! But now, I don’t wish to do that anymore.”
“It’s the same for me. President Shen has gone overboard!”
“…”
The rest of the people discussed this non-stop. These voices were quickly captured by the staff members and reached the ears of those in the first row.
Hearing this, the science association’s vice president whispered next to Shen Yuansong’s ear, “President, you’ll anger everyone like this. This is very disadvantageous to your votes!”
As the special contribution award was brought up by the science association, the voting would also be done on the spot today.
Moreover, it would only be awarded if over two-thirds of the voters agreed.
Shen Yuansong initially had his right to the special contribution award canceled, but a moment ago, some people who were of high seniority in the association gathered for a discussion. They then eventually decided to give the deciding right to all the scientists present.
After all, being lacking in ethics wasn’t a criterion to judge one’s suitability for “outstanding contribution”. It’d depend on everyone’s acceptance of the said scientist’s moral level.
Therefore, if Shen Yuansong had shown more sincerity and humility, there would have still been hope for him at the award ceremony tonight.
However, Shen Ruojing’s appearance already angered everyone.
The vice president saw everything clearly. Shen Yuansong had changed his company at the last minute. This meant that he hadn’t planned on bringing Shen Ruojing here and that the mistress had found her way here herself!
Hence, the vice president’s gaze when looking at Shen Ruojing changed to become unfriendly.
He was a loyal supporter of Shen Yuansong, but now, to think that the person he admired the most was going to be destroyed in the hands of a woman?!
However, Shen Yuansong blocked his view and was very defensive of Shen Ruojing. He lowered his gaze and said, “Alright, let the award ceremony begin.”
The vice president nodded.
Shen Ruojing didn’t feel anything about the vice president’s hostility. Her phone rang and she saw the message Lu Hui sent her. [Oh right, Boss, didn’t you want to go on stage to say a few words to acknowledge a family member? The organizer has arranged for you to say a few words for the opening.]