Chapter 28: The Defeat of Pei Qizhou-Após fingir a própria morte por câncer, o marido canalha e o filho ingrato choram como cães(O imortal busca a imortalidade)

Yao Shan took a deep breath, doing her best to remain calm. She knew that regardless of the outcome, she had given it her all.

Before long, the judges returned to the hall to announce the results of the bidding. Upon hearing that the Chu Group had successfully won the bid, a flicker of joy crossed Yao Shan's eyes, though she quickly regained her composure.

Pei Qizhou’s expression shifted slightly, but he soon steadied himself. "Congratulations, President Chu?" he said, walking over to the elder Mr. Chu and raising an eyebrow. "You certainly found yourself a capable talent," he added, his gaze shifting to Yao Shan.

Mr. Chu smiled in response, his eyes filled with pride. "Thank you for the compliment, President Pei. Yao Shan is indeed the standout of our team." His tone was laced with trust and admiration for her.

Pei Qizhou nodded slightly. Though he felt a sting of reluctance, he had to acknowledge Yao Shan's competence. He turned to her and said, "Miss Yao, you truly are someone to be reckoned with."

"You are too kind, President Pei," Yao Shan replied politely, though her tone remained devoid of any real emotion.

Her coolness and confidence left Pei Qizhou feeling a hint of frustration, though he did not show it. He gave her one long, deep look before turning to leave.

Just then, Chu Xun stepped forward and patted Yao Shan on the shoulder, signaling for her to relax. "You were truly excellent today," he whispered, his eyes full of appreciation.

Yao Shan smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her heart. She knew that no matter how great the pressure, she could persevere as long as she had the support of Chu Xun and their team.

Following the bidding, the Chu Group held a small celebration. Yao Shan and her team members raised their glasses, the atmosphere warm and joyous. In his speech, Mr. Chu made a point to mention Yao Shan’s contributions, praising her as the soul of the team. "This success is not just a victory for the project, but a triumph of our team spirit," he said, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future.

Amidst the applause, Yao Shan felt a surge of pride, yet she was well aware that this was only the beginning and that the road ahead remained long. She secretly resolved to continue working hard, determined not to let anyone down.

***

Meanwhile, Pei Qizhou returned to his office. He sat alone before the window, watching the night view, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. "Yao Shan, you are truly no ordinary fish in a small pond," he muttered to himself, a complex light flickering in his eyes. He knew this business rivalry was far from over; the real contest between him and Yao Shan had only just begun.

It was already eleven o'clock at night, and Pei Qizhou had yet to return home. At home, Xu Miao paced back and forth; usually, Pei Qizhou would not return this late. After a moment of thought, she dialed his number.

"Hello? What is it?" Pei Qizhou’s voice sounded slightly weary but remained composed.

"Qizhou, why haven't you come home yet? It's already so late," Xu Miao said, her tone carrying a hint of concern, though it was underscored by dissatisfaction.

"There are some matters at the company that need to be handled. I'll be back later," Pei Qizhou replied curtly, offering no further explanation.

Xu Miao paused, trying to mask her unease. "There’s a project at the Galaxy Group I wanted to discuss with you. I’ll come to the office." She hoped to use work as a pretext to get his attention, unaware that Pei Qizhou was already dissatisfied with her performance in that very role.

Sensing her intent, Pei Qizhou responded coldly, "That won't be necessary. The matter is nearly resolved, and I'll be home shortly." He did not want to see Xu Miao at the office, especially not while his mind was in such a state of turmoil.

After hanging up, Pei Qizhou took a deep breath to collect his thoughts. He knew that Xu Miao’s ability fell far short of Yao Shan’s and that the Galaxy Group project would only deteriorate further in her hands. Yet, he understood that he needed to stay level-headed and not let personal feelings cloud the company’s strategic decisions.

Pei Qizhou stood up, ready to leave. Just then, his phone rang again—this time, it was his assistant. "President Pei, the Chu Group has made a new move. They seem to be preparing for an even larger project," the assistant said, his voice laced with urgency.

Pei Qizhou frowned, feeling a sense of alarm. He knew the Chu Group would not let this victory go to waste and would undoubtedly press their advantage. "Monitor their movements closely. Report anything immediately," he commanded, his tone sharp.

When he arrived home, Xu Miao was waiting in the living room. Seeing him, she immediately hurried over. "Qizhou, you’re finally back." Her tone was conciliatory.

Pei Qizhou nodded slightly, said nothing, and walked straight toward his study.

***

Seeing this, Xu Miao felt a pang of resentment but could only follow him in silence. "How is work at the Galaxy Group?" Pei Qizhou asked, looking at her.

Xu Miao froze, clearly not expecting him to bring up work so suddenly. She forced a smile and replied, "It’s... it’s fine, just a few things I’m not quite used to yet." Her tone betrayed her anxiety, fearing he would scrutinize her performance.

Pei Qizhou’s gaze was sharp, as if he could see right through her. "Not used to it? Or is it because you lack the ability?" His words were blunt and merciless.

Xu Miao’s face went pale. "No, Qizhou, that’s not it. I just need a little more time to adjust to the new environment," she stammered, trying to cover her incompetence. But under his piercing gaze, she felt she had nowhere to hide.

Pei Qizhou let out a cold hum and said no more. He knew clearly that Xu Miao was no match for Yao Shan and was utterly unfit for the Galaxy Group project. Still, he reminded himself that he needed to remain calm; he could not let emotions affect his business decisions.

"You should leave; I want to be alone for a while," he said, waving her away.

Xu Miao had no choice but to retreat from the study. She was filled with resentment and anxiety, knowing her standing in Pei Qizhou’s heart was beginning to waver.

Left alone, Pei Qizhou replayed the day’s bidding in his mind. Yao Shan’s poise and professionalism had frustrated him, but they had also ignited a stronger fighting spirit within him. He knew the struggle was far from over.

He took a deep breath, picked up his phone, and called his assistant. "Make arrangements for a high-level meeting tomorrow. We need to adjust our strategy to counter the challenges from the Chu Group."

After the assistant agreed and hung up, Pei Qizhou stood up and walked to the window. Looking out at the nightscape, he made a silent vow: no matter what, he would not be easily defeated by Yao Shan.

Meanwhile, at the Chu Group, Yao Shan was also busy discussing the next phase of their plans with her team.