Chapter 122: Contract Signing

The signing ceremony for the HZ project was imminent.

It was scheduled to take place at the Central Hotel.

Given that it was the most significant commercial endeavor in the chemical industry in recent years, it had attracted much attention.

Not only were the Fang and Shen families attending the event, but also notable figures within the industry and influential business tycoons interested in investing in the project.

Early in the morning, a queue of cars formed outside the hotel. The hotel staff bustled about, directing the vehicles into the parking lot.

Once the majority of the guests had taken their seats, Shen Hongyuan arrived with his wife and children.

This event was of utmost significance to the Shen family, and Shen Hongyuan was a man who cared deeply about his image.

Therefore, he ordered every member of the Shen family to be present.

Aside from Lu Ran, even Shen Xingzhuo, who typically skipped such gatherings, was summoned.

As they emerged from their cars, the waiting media swarmed around them.

Hotel staff were on hand to maintain order.

Shen Hongyuan paused at the red-carpeted steps, where he stood with his wife, granting the press an opportunity for photographs.

With his right arm around his wife, Shen Hongyuan's left side was occupied by Shen Xingyu, Shen Xingzhuo, and Shen Xingran in that order.

The Shen matriarch exuded elegance and grace, dressed in a haute couture gown and adorned with a limited-edition accessory from a prestigious luxury brand on her hair.

Her smile toward the cameras was as warm and composed as ever.

Shen Hongyuan wore an expression of unwavering confidence, combined with the diplomatic finesse characteristic of a seasoned businessman.

There was no trace of the anger he had displayed at home.

Shen Xingyu, Shen Xingzhuo, and Shen Xingran, each with their own thoughts, maintained their composure admirably.

It was a chaotic and disorderly family, but at this moment, their emotions seemed aligned.

Aligned in their joy.

They lingered on the steps for quite some time.

The media snapped ample photos, while the Shen family put on a facade of a blissful family.

Only then did Shen Hongyuan lead his family inside.

Upon entering the hotel lobby, acquaintances approached to engage in small talk.

"Mr. Shen, it's been a long time! You're still as charismatic as ever!"

"Modesty aside, I still can't compare to President Li."

"How long have we been friends? There's no need for such rivalry. But honestly, I'll have to rely on you more in the future..."

The ladies around Madam Shen echoed her sentiments.

Compliments were exchanged about appearances and attire, but the main topic of conversation soon turned to children.

"This must be Xin Yu, right? It's been ages. You must be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight by now. Have you made any arrangements for marriage?"

Both Shen Xingzhuo and Shen Xingran received their fair share of praise.

Especially Shen Xingran, with his delicate features and obedient demeanor, he was the type that elders adored the most.

However, for some reason, Shen Xingran seemed somewhat distracted this time.

In this signing ceremony, the Shen family had become the center of attention.

Journalists even approached Madam Shen for her insights on parenting.

Mrs. Shen smiled warmly and intelligently.

She said, "Our family doesn't put too much pressure on our children. As a mother, I mostly accommodate them, allowing each of them to grow according to their strengths..."

Upon hearing her words, the ladies around her immediately shot envious glances her way.

However, Shen Xingyu lowered his eyes slightly upon listening to her.

Shen Xingzhuo looked up at the ceiling, seemingly rolling his eyes.

Shen Xingran continued to smile obediently and flawlessly, like a life-like doll.

Even Shen Xingzhuo, who was known for his antics, knew when to stop and didn't do anything too outrageous at this moment.

The gathering media asked many more questions.

Suddenly, one journalist, either deliberately or due to lack of preparation, interjected abruptly, "May I ask if your son who went missing and was later found did not attend today's event?"

Upon these words, whether it was Shen Hongyuan, who was engaging in polite flattery with others, the eloquent Mrs. Shen in front of the journalists, or their three sons present, all paused simultaneously. The silence was brief but uniform, echoing the deep, unseen fissures within this seemingly perfect family. Soon, another media outlet supplanted the one that had spoken up earlier, and the atmosphere on-site regained its warmth. However, the Shen family members appeared somewhat preoccupied. Shen Hongyuan sighed helplessly, adopting the demeanor of a kindly father troubled by his younger generation. Mrs. Shen's tone carried a hint of urgency as she didn't respond to the journalist's question but instead proactively shared many insights about her experiences as a mother before the media. It seemed as if she was afraid of being criticized for her inadequacy as a parent.

Shen Xingyu fell even more into silence, only speaking up when questions were directed towards the business matters of the Shen family.

Shen Xingzhuo, on the other hand, effortlessly broke free from the reporters and took a seat in a corner by himself.

In such occasions, the impeccable Shen Xingran surprisingly glanced at his phone for once.

Soon, the representative of the Fang family, Fang Lin, made an appearance.

Unlike the Shen family, who had come with their entire entourage, Fang Lin had only brought along his eldest son.

Shen Hongyuan promptly approached Fang Lin.

After exchanging pleasantries, Fang Lin glanced around at the surrounding media before suggesting,

"Shall we commence the ceremony now?"

Shen Hongyuan had no objections and hastily agreed.

Dealing with the media could always wait until later.

First and foremost, it was essential to sign the contract.

However, this signing ceremony was not merely about publicly entrusting the project to the Shen family. It also involved elucidating the specifics of the HZ project to the public.

Fang Lin was highly responsible; upon taking the stage, he immediately delved into the main topic.

Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingyu sat below, awaiting their turn.

Shen Hongyuan relished Fang Lin's explanation of the project – the more valuable the project, the greater the standing of the Shen family that secured it.

As the presentation progressed, it became more technical with specialized terminology, turning somewhat tedious.

Shen Xingyu, having prepared extensively to win this project and with the Shen Corporation's expertise in the field, found it relatively easy to follow.

In contrast, for someone like Shen Hongyuan, he had to rely on an assistant with a matching professional background to interpret the details beside him.

Let alone the others in attendance who might find it even more challenging.

Aside from the invited professionals, the other media representatives and business figures couldn't help but be somewhat distracted.

Even Shen Hongyuan found his mind wandering for a moment.

He couldn't resist picking up his phone to browse social media.

There, he spotted an eye-catching news headline:

"Breaking! Lino Group overcomes technical hurdles, nanoscale particle technology upgrades once again! Accuracy surpasses data disclosed by the Shen Corporation…"

At that moment, Fang Lin on stage was explaining the reason behind his choice of the Shen Corporation:

"The Shen Corporation's innovations in nanomaterial technology have been a significant driving force for this project..."

A thud echoed in Shen Hongyuan's heart.

He no longer cared about appearing attentive during the meeting and couldn't resist glancing down at his phone again.

What was going on?

Isn't this technology the recent breakthrough from the Shen Laboratory?

It was thanks to this technology that they had the upper hand over the Lino family.

Due to the haste, the patent application for this technology was still in progress.

But now...

Looking at the title, Shen Hongyuan couldn't help feeling anxious.

Upon closer thought, things had already come to this point. The Shen family had privately negotiated with Fang Lin.

Even if the Lino family also possessed this technology, as long as the difference wasn't too great, the Fang family wouldn't abandon the Shens to choose the Linos.

With this realization, Shen Hongyuan's nerves settled.

He put down his phone and regained his smile, leaning back comfortably in his chair.

Still, he instructed his assistant to suppress any news about the Lino family as quickly as possible.

A moment later.

Shen Xingyu's assistant hurried over and whispered something into Shen Xingyu's ear.

Then, the assistant passed the phone to Shen Xingyu.

Upon glancing at the screen, Shen Xingyu's expression darkened immediately.

His face was a terrible sight.

Seeing this, Shen Hongyuan found it somewhat amusing.

Shaking his head, he sighed, "You're still young after all. Getting flustered over such a small matter?"

He then sternly advised, "Mind your surroundings. Pull yourself together and don't let the media catch you like this. It won't look good."

Upon hearing Shen Hongyuan's words, Shen Xingyu's expression grew even darker.

Shen Xingyu swiftly gave some instructions to his assistant.

He wanted to rise and leave for a moment, but considering the situation, he maintained his composure and stayed seated, his face darkened.

Reaching out, he unlocked his phone and slid the screen toward Shen Hongyuan.

Shen Hongyuan waved dismissively, saying, "I've seen it."

Despite himself, he glanced at the screen while speaking.

That one glimpse left him utterly stunned.

There were two news headlines side by side on the display.

One was the technological breakthrough of the Lino Group that Shen Hongyuan had just read about.

However, the news that had just caused Shen Hongyuan anxiety was now supplanted to second place.

Taking the top spot was a fresh headline:

"Financial irregularities in the Shen Corporation exposed!"

"Is it secure to entrust the HZ Project to the Shen Corporation?"

At the sight of this news headline, Shen Hongyuan shot upright in his seat with a sudden jolt.

Startled to the point of nearly standing up from his chair, it was Shen Xingyu who steadied him with a hand on his shoulder at the crucial moment.

Shen Hongyuan's pupils constricted, his face momentarily blank with shock.

Yet, he managed to restrain himself, his lips trembling slightly.

In this situation, the media had eyes on them from every corner.

With so many people watching the Shen Corporation closely, any unusual behavior would certainly arouse suspicion.

On stage, Fang Lin was still elaborating on the project objectives.

Shen Hongyuan found himself more anxious than ever before.

He could only hope that Fang Lin and his assistant weren't paying attention to the media at the moment. He also wished that everyone present was courteous enough not to divert their attention elsewhere. Once this signing ceremony was officially concluded, with the contracts signed, any issues that arose could still be negotiated with the Fang family! Fang Lin displayed another chart on the screen. Shen Hongyuan, who had been absorbed in Fang Lin's explanation, now wished he could fast-forward through it. Stop talking! Stop talking! What's the point of all this? Just sign the contract! Cold sweat trickled down Shen Hongyuan's forehead. His demeanor caught the attention of a CEO sitting beside him. The concerned man asked, "Mr. Shen, are you feeling unwell?"

With beads of sweat on his forehead, Shen Hongyuan managed to say, "It's a bit warm in here."

Amidst Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingyu's prayers, Fang Lin finally concluded his presentation.

He smiled at the audience and extended his hand, inviting, "Now, please welcome Mr. Shen to the stage for the final signing ceremony."

The audience immediately burst into applause.

At this moment, both Shen Xingyu and Shen Hongyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Due to sheer nervousness, Shen Hongyuan stumbled a couple of steps as he stood up.

Someone beside him chuckled, "Looks like Mr. Shen is overly delighted."

Shen Hongyuan could only return the smile.

Together, he and Shen Xingyu ascended the stage.

Thunderous applause resounded from below.

Shen Hongyuan took his seat across from Fang Lin, with lawyers standing behind each of them. Both parties had contracts spread out before them.

Eagerly, Shen Hongyuan reached for the stamp, but his hand slipped before he gripped it firmly. At that moment, the applause from the audience subsided slightly.

Yet, in that very instant, an odd surge of unrest emerged amidst the fading applause.

First, a muffled gasp from someone in the crowd. Then, whispers began to grow louder.

The whispers spread, turning into a hall filled with astonishment and doubt.

The noise from the audience was too loud for Fang Lin not to notice from across the room.

Frowning, Fang Lin was just about to grab the microphone to inquire.

His assistant rushed over from behind and whispered something into his ear.

Fang Lin initially frowned, then his gaze gradually darkened.

He looked at Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingyu across from him, his expression terrible.

"Mr. Fang, we..."

Shen Xingyu immediately stepped forward to speak.

But Fang Lin abruptly stood up, interrupting Shen Xingyu.

Holding the microphone, he faced the audience and said in a cold voice, "Thank you all for coming, but there seems to be an issue with the background information. Unfortunately, the signing ceremony today might not proceed. I apologize for wasting your time."

With that, Fang Lin didn't even spare a glance at the Shen brothers before hastily leaving the scene.

No one had anticipated this turn of events.

The crowd was in an uproar.

There were those who were uninformed and still looked bewildered as they tried to inquire around. However, the more perceptive individuals immediately grasped the situation. It seemed that there might be financial irregularities within the Shen Corporation. Otherwise, with Fang Lin's upbringing, he wouldn't have left in such an unceremonious manner after seeing those two new articles. After the initial shock, the others remained seated. But the media, lurking in every corner, immediately went into a frenzy. The Shen family members, who had just been warmly interviewed, were once again swarmed. Shen Xingyu, known for his decisiveness, quickly instructed his public relations assistant while rushing towards the direction Fang Lin had taken. On the stage, Shen Hongyuan was still standing, while Mrs. Shen and the others, sitting below in a daze, were suddenly trapped. Countless cameras instantly zoomed in on Shen Hongyuan's face.

"Mr. Shen, have you seen the news? Are you aware of the allegations regarding financial irregularities within your company?"

"Does Mr. Fang's abrupt departure right before signing indicate that you didn't disclose your company's situation honestly during negotiations?"

"Is it true that Shen Corporation's aggressive pursuit of the HZ project is merely an attempt to cover up internal deficits? Doesn't this contradict your initial statements?"

"Can we assume that the technological breakthrough achieved by the Lino Group is in any way connected to your company?"

"It's been said that the Lino Group's technology surpasses that of the Shen Corporation. What are your thoughts on this?"

Just an hour ago, the Shen family had been at the center of attention, basking in the spotlight.

The media had been gently probing into their work, family life, and personal aspirations.

In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere shifted, and a barrage of pointed questions rained down upon them.

Shen Hongyuan gazed at the crowd below.

Observing the sudden change in demeanor from those who had just been smiling at him.

Well into his middle years, he suddenly heard his father's cold and familiar reprimand echo in his ears:

"Useless!"

Amidst the hubbub, Shen Hongyuan's assistant suddenly cried out, "Chairman!"

Shen Hongyuan had fainted.