Chapter 197 - THE SHEN FAMILY (III)

THE Mid-Autumn Festival dinner for the Shen family had begun.  Shen Yi Mu was sitting on the same huge round table together with the other older male members of the family.  Which included his father and older brother.  Their mother, on the other hand, was sitting on another table together with other female members of the family.  While the younger generation also had a table of their own – one for the girls and one for the boys. 

"Yi Mu, I heard your company's net worth increased again," said an older cousin from the branch family.  "Actually, my son is on his last year of university.  It would be good if he could intern in your company.  What do you think?"

This was one of the reasons why Shen Yi Mu hated family reunions.  Because people just assumed that just because they're related, they had the right to intrude into his company as if they were there with him when he founded it. 

He smiled at the cousin who just spoke.  "Oh, then he can apply for the internship if he so wanted.  But the interns my company accepts are all smart and skilled.  If your son is confident enough with his abilities, then he's very much welcome to apply.  I wouldn't move a finger and give him any sort of special treatment.  Because relative or not, my company doesn't welcome incompetent people."  He raised the glass of wine on his side.  "I hope you do understand, cousin."

This cousin's face was filled with surprised at first.  But after the initial shock, his expression quickly changed into that of anger.  "You—"

"Surely you're not mad.  I believe I didn't say anything offensive," Shen Yi Mu said, cutting off whatever nonsense the man was about to say.  "Unless, of course, you don't have faith in the ability of your son and you do think of him as nothing but an incompetent fool," he finished and drank the wine he was holding.

Which was true, by the way.  Shen Yi Mu heard that the son this cousin was pushing onto his company was nothing but a brat who just rely on his family name and was always acting like some big shot.  In short, a kid who's full of barks but no bites.  Shen Yi Mu disliked those types.

"Now, now, we should just enjoy these delicious dishes in front of us," one member of the branch family said, trying to mediate.

"Agree.  I think the food right now is even more delicious than last year's," another one said.

Shen Yi Mu didn't say anything and just ate his own dinner.

"Yi Mu, I heard you plan on expanding that game of yours overseas?" Shen Yi Wu who had been quiet until now suddenly asked.

Shen Yi Mu raised his head to look at his older brother.  The man looked like a replica of their father – from his stern face up to his large built.  The only difference was his character was more preserve in comparison.  "That had always been the plan.  But it would probably take years before I can successfully do that."

After all, there were a lot of things he needed to consider.  Important details that needed to be completely smoothen out.  Because just one misstep could lead to thousands of problems for his company.  Which, as the founder and CEO, he couldn't just allow to happen.

"If you need any legal help, don't hesitate to ask me."

"Thank you, Brother.  I'll keep that in mind."

"Hmp.  I think before you go and make all these grand plans, you should find a woman to marry first.  What if you end up an old bachelor because you're too invested in that game whatsoever of yours?" their father interjected.  "Who would you pass on that huge business of yours if you don't have a child of your own?"

Shen Yi Mu could only laugh.  Times like this, he almost just wanted to blurt out that 'sorry, Dad, can't marry a woman since I'm gay'.  His father would probably disown him on the spot.  But definitely not before beating him up. 

There were actually a lot of times he thought to hell with it, he should just go and do it.  But every time that thought crossed his mind, he would immediately think of his mother.  Because she was the one who would be the most affected if he did just that.  And he didn't want to put her in that position.

"Well, then I should just pass it on to Ji Yun."

What he said made his father frown, as expected.  But he didn't comment on that and turned to his older brother instead, opening up a new topic.

Shen Yi Mu just shook his head and continued eating.

Meanwhile, on the other side where the younger male generation of the Shen family was…

"I heard your planning to intern at Moonlight Media?" a young man asked the person sitting next to him. 

"Yeah.  My Dad is going to ask Uncle Yi Mu about it," answered a rather plain looking young man.  But despite looking so ordinary, his body language boasted of extreme confidence.  As if he was the best person in the room. Which, in this case, was a far cry from reality.

"Do you think you will get it?"

"Of course.  There's no reason Uncle Yi Mu will disagree," he said proudly.  Then he looked at Shen Ji Yun who instead of eating was fiddling with his phone.  "Hey, Ji Yun, looks like we'll be seeing each other quite often in the near future."  Shen Ji Yun ignored him.  As always.  He snorted.  This guy always acted like he's all high and mighty, when he's just some half-breed.  "Did you not hear me or have gone deaf?"

Shen Ji Yun finally looked at him and he suddenly felt a chill ran down his spine.  He almost forgot how jarring it was to be looked at by those cold blue eyes. 

"No, I just simply dislike talking to delusional fools," Shen Ji Yun said in that cold emotionless voice.

His whole face suddenly turned red from humiliation.  How dare this half-breed talked down to him like that?  "You--!"

A loud laugh suddenly erupted from the left.  It was a young man who looked to be the same age as Shen Ji Yun.  Even if he was sitting, one could immediately tell that he's quite tall.  And it's also obvious that he had a pretty muscular physique.  His curly black hair was styled in a crop with both sides and lower back shaved.  It gave him a certain kind of wild charm.  Which only increased his already high face value.  It was Shen Yi Wu's younger son – Shen Xin.

"As much as I don't like Ji Yun, he's right. You're a fool. Because there's no way Uncle Mu would allow you in his company. So, I suggest you stop daydreaming," Shen Xin said, smirking at the already humiliated cousin and looking at him as if he's the most stupid guy he had ever seen.

"Enough," said another voice.

This time it was from a man who looked to be 23 or 24. He was tall and lean. There were some similarities in his features with Shen Xin, like their eyes and eyebrows. But that was it. If Shen Xin's handsomeness screamed of wildness, then this man's handsome visage screamed of stillness. Like a calm lake without a wave. He was the head of the younger generation of the Shen family. The older son of Shen Yi Wu – Shen Lin.

Shen Ji Yun ignored all of them and just sent a message to Luo Yan.

[luckycloud]: Yan Yan, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.