Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me

Chapter 316 : (Extra) Shang Ruohai and Feng Jieyun’s Side Story (4)

To celebrate a century of excellence, CNC Studio orchestrated a gala of unparalleled scale. The company’s entire roster of elite talent was summoned, their external commitments wiped clean for a single evening to ensure a seamless, back-to-back showcase of the studio’s legacy.

Even those who had long since vanished into retirement returned to make a rare comeback as a final, soaring homage to the former CEO of CNC Studio, Shang Xiaoyi.

The man himself sat at the front, raising his glass at his rivals and allies alike, while reveling in a continuous litany of compliments that flowed his way.

Next to him sat his youngest son, the one set to inherit the entire company that night.

"Look at what I have achieved," Shang Xiaoyi said in a hoarse voice. "This is all the result of my hard work. A hundred years of success. Though I won’t live to see the next hundred years, I do hope that you and your children will preserve what we have built so far."

Shang Ruohai smiled.

"Of course, Father."

Shang Xiaoyi turned around and gazed at the sea of faces, some familiar while most were not.

"Ruohan... he didn’t come, did he?"

"No, Father, he didn’t."

Shang Xiaoyi shook his head full of regret.

"Ruohan has never been great at taking losses... Ruohai, you have already won. At the very least, let your big brother keep his position in the company. You can do that much, can’t you?"

Shang Ruohai gave him a thin, meaningful smile.

"Why, of course," he said with a touch of sarcasm. "Why would I want to kick my own brother out of the company?"

Just then, the music ended, and the group of dancers slowly retreated from the stage. The MC, a seasoned comedian, climbed atop the stage and beamed at the guests.

"Dear guests, are you having a lot of fun? I certainly could not take my eyes off the dancers just now! I thought about getting a dance lesson from them, but then I might end up in the hospital with my feet pointing in opposite directions!"

The crowd broke into a hearty laughter.

"And now, I would like to invite the former CEO of CNC Studio, Mr. Shang Xiaoyi, to the stage. Let us hear the long-awaited speech!" the MC announced gleefully while gesturing in Shang Xiaoyi’s direction.

Shang Ruohai rose to his feet and draped an arm around his father to help him to the stage. Shang Xiaoyi barely pushed himself off the chair when the door of the banquet hall was pushed open in a dramatic manner. A silhouette stood framed in the threshold, shrouded in a blinding halo of light that cut through the dim opulence of the room.

Everyone had to squint their eyes to see who it was.

"It’s Shang Ruohan," one of them finally spoke. "Eldest Young Master Shang is here!"

Shang Ruohan, wearing a confident smirk across his face, stalked toward his father and his younger half-brother.

The two half-brothers stared at each other, sparks flying where their gazes collided.

"You are here, Big Brother," Shang Ruohai said with a cold smile that matched the icy gleam in his eyes.

"Naturally," Shang Ruohan said in retort. "Why would I miss your big night, Little Brother?"

Shang Xiaoyi cleared his throat and shot both sons a warning glare.

"Help me up there, both of you."

"Of course."

Shang Ruohan took Shang Xiaoyi’s left arm, while Shang Ruohai took his right arm. Together, they helped their father to the stage.

Taking into consideration Shang Xiaoyi’s weak physical state, the MC hurriedly brought over a chair for the former CEO to sit in. Both sons stepped down the stage and sat at their table, side-by-side.

Shang Xiaoyi gave both sons a protracted glance before he grabbed the microphone and began to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, treasured friends and colleagues, and all former and present talents who gathered tonight, I humbly thank you for your immense contribution."

He swept an arm outward in a grand, inclusive arc, gesturing toward the towering screen behind him. "Without each of you," he declared, his voice filled with a solemn pride, "CNC Studio would not have achieved the unrivaled heights it stands upon today."

"Naturally, a hundred years is but a beginning. We will strive to serve you for the next, and the next hundred years."

A round of applause followed. Shang Xiaoyi held up his hand and sighed into the microphone, "As you all know, I have already resigned from my position as the CEO of CNC Studio due to my ailing health problems. And yet, I am proud to tell you that one of my sons shall continue my legacy. Tonight, I shall announce the next CEO of CNC Studio."

Shang Xiaoyi nodded toward Shang Ruohai with a smile.

"Ruohai, come up here."

Shang Ruohai rose to his feet amidst a thunderous applause. He beamed and waved at the cheering crowd as he slowly climbed the flight of stairs to join his father on the stage.

Shang Xiaoyi patted his youngest son on the upper arm and shook his hand hard.

"Congratulations, Ruohai," he said. "You have worked hard for tonight. You earned it."

"Thank you, Father."

"Speech! Speech! Speech!" the guests chanted in a feverish unison, their rhythmic clapping pulsing through the hall like a heartbeat.

Shang Ruohai flashed them a round of smiles, but his smile stiffened somewhat when it landed on his elder brother.

Shang Ruohan did not look devastated at all.

That vicious smirk on his face made Shang Ruohai feel restless.

"What are you thinking about? Didn’t you prepare a speech for tonight?"

Shang Xiaoyi’s voice dragged him back to his senses.

"Of course, I did," Shang Ruohai said. His father left the stage, and the sea of banquet participants beneath the stage awaited his speech.

Shang Ruohai cleared his throat. For some reason, his nose felt stuffy.

"Everyone, as I stand before you tonight, looking out at the magnificent legacy that is CNC Studio, I am struck by a profound truth --- the honor I receive tonight is not merely a gift, but a sacred obligation. It is my duty to uphold the standard of excellence and the unassailable prestige my father has so meticulously guarded for decades."

Shang Ruohai took a deep breath, but he almost choked on a violent cough. Unexpectedly, he ended up inhaling a cloud of dry, gritty dust.

"Ladies and gentlemen..." he began, but then he heard someone scream.

"AHHHH LOOK AT THE CHANDELIER...!!!!"

A jolt of pure terror seized Shang Ruohai as he stared upward. The giant chandelier above his head was shuddering, its heavy frame oscillating violently until the final link gave way and it plummeted toward him in a blinding cage of light.

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Author’s note :

Hullo!

Sorry for the wait, dear readers, particularly Nekoda *wink wink*

If nothing goes awry, I should be able to finish this side story within a week ;)

Sorry for the cliffhanger *runs away like a maniac*