Sheng Shuocheng wasn't a man who acted on impulse. Once he spoke, he had basically made up his mind.
However, this decision was truly astonishing.
As his assistant and the person closest to Sheng Shuocheng, Zhang Yi endured the shock in his heart and asked, "Mr. Sheng, are you sure? Miss Jiang has a complex background and deep experiences. Isn't it too impulsive to decide to adopt her without due consideration?"
"Moreover, we haven't informed the young master about this. Suddenly having someone share the family fortune with him will surely lead to family disharmony, and there will be constant disputes..."
Sheng Shuocheng glanced at him, and Zhang Yi immediately fell silent, knowing that the chairman had made up his mind.
"That brat Sheng Jingxi just wants to live with his race - cars all day long. If there's really someone to help him take over the family business, he'd be more than happy."
Of course, he knew how wild his son was. "Besides, although I'm willing to adopt her as my daughter, it also depends on whether she's willing."
Zhang Yi was taken aback. "Isn't she very close to the old lady? Now that she knows so much about you and Mrs. Sheng, and their relationship is harmonious, how could she possibly refuse?"
In Zhang Yi's mind, Jiang Li would never refuse.
This was a once - in - a - lifetime opportunity.
However, the slap in the face came much faster than he expected.
On the way to the airport, Sheng Shuocheng casually brought up the topic and asked her half - jokingly and half - seriously if she wanted to be his adopted daughter.
Jiang Li smiled brightly and shook her head. "If I were under eighteen, I might need an adoptive father. But I'm already in my twenties, and I'm fully capable of taking responsibility for my own life."
Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhang Yi listened to the conversation in the back and immediately understood why the chairman had been worried.
It wasn't unfounded worry.
Sheng Shuocheng glanced at her and didn't force the issue. "That brat Sheng Jingxi should really listen to this. He's a few years older than you, but all he does is run wild outside all day long. He never lets me, his father, worry less."
There was a hint of disappointment in his words.
Whenever Sheng Shuocheng mentioned his son, he always sighed, as if he was very disappointed, but he never really got angry. It was more of worry and helplessness.
Jiang Li had heard his name during a meal last time and had checked him up online later.
She had thought he was just a good - for - nothing playboy, but when she saw his long list of achievements, she was stunned.
Sheng Jingxi, 28 years old, was an international platinum - level race - car driver. He was one of the few in Asia who had an F1 super driver's license and was ranked among the top ten in the world racing ranking points list.
His glittering resume was hard to associate with the "good - for - nothing rebel" in Sheng Shuocheng's mouth.
Jiang Li thought silently that being a child of the Sheng family was really stressful.
Achieving so much in a certain field was still not satisfactory in Sheng Shuocheng's eyes.
Sure enough, not just anyone could be a scion of a wealthy family.
Jiang Li sighed to Sheng Shuocheng that Sheng Jingxi was really excellent in the field of racing and that there was no need to be so pessimistic about him. The future was still promising.
"Don't you think I know what you're saying?"
Sheng Shuocheng shook his head and sighed helplessly. "He's loved cars since he was a child. As the saying goes, 'a child shows his nature at the age of three'. This child has always been very wild - tempered."
"His mother was very far - sighted and predicted early on that he would go overboard, so she disciplined him since he was a child. Unfortunately, I didn't pay much attention back then, and now he's getting more and more extreme. No one can persuade him."
Sheng Shuocheng said softly, "I don't object to him playing racing, but now he's risking his life to set records. He's driving faster and faster. At my age in my fifties, how can I bear the pain of losing my son..."
"Stop right there." Jiang Li immediately interrupted him seriously. "You shouldn't talk nonsense. The more you do, the more you should avoid bad omens. Some words can't be said casually."
Her nervous look made the usually serious Sheng Shuocheng unable to keep a straight face. "You're so young, but you're quite superstitious."
"Of course I'm superstitious." Jiang Li said calmly. "I actually believe in fate."
"Believe in fate?"
"Yes." Jiang Li nodded, blinked her eyes, and said seriously, "For example, look at my name. The single character 'Li' means 'wander', 'separate', and 'leave'. "
"So my parents separated early, our family wandered, and now I've left Beicheng. I'm probably doomed to be entangled with 'separation' all my life. This is something written in my fate."
She explained seriously, and Sheng Shuocheng found it funny.
He said, "If judged in this way, I think the character 'Ruo' suits you better."
Jiang Li was confused. "Ruo?"
"Yes, a wise man appears stupid, remain calm in the face of difficulties, and take things calmly." He paused for a moment. "Moreover, the character 'Ruo' itself means 'possible'."
He looked at Jiang Li with rare tenderness and patted her head. "You have infinite possibilities, little girl."
...
Back in Huacheng, everything remained the same.
Her life was very peaceful. She was still busy in the drama troupe, and from time to time, she would visit Cheng Yingchun to learn embroidery and have meals and chats with her.
Jiang Li thought that sometimes it was good to live like this.
One day, after the drama ended.
Jiang Li took off her makeup, changed her clothes, said goodbye to everyone as usual, and walked out of the drama troupe. Turning her head, she saw the tall and big Shang Zewen smiling at her.
"Mr. Shang." Jiang Li greeted him generously. "Did you watch my performance just now?"
"Yes, it was very good, very nice!" He clapped his hands. "I was sitting in the audience and clapped very hard. You've adapted the script very well. The effect is a hundred times better than in France."
Jiang Li knew he was exaggerating, so she said politely, "I just made some local adaptations according to the understanding of the domestic audience. I hope you don't think it's offensive."
"The audience's response to these plays has been very good. Thank you."
Shang Zewen shrugged indifferently. He casually tugged at his tie, indicating that he was in a great mood. "The weather is nice today. May I invite the lady to have a drink with me?"
His Chinese was very poor, and his pick - up line was rather strange. Jiang Li found it really interesting. Thinking that tomorrow was a day off, she agreed. "Sure. Where shall we go?"
—
Most of the bars in Huacheng were quiet bars. Although the lights were dim, the atmosphere was very romantic.
"I'll treat you." After Jiang Li sat down, she pushed the wine list across the table. "I haven't had the chance to invite you to dinner since we started working together."
"Baby, I don't care about this." Maybe it was the atmosphere that made his tone more meaningful. "You're a beauty, and it's hard for a man to refuse a beauty's request."
Jiang Li just smiled and joked along with his tone. "But men are also the most calculating. Aren't they?"
Although she was smiling, there was a faint coldness in her eyes, but it wasn't obvious and was almost invisible under the dim and hazy lights.