Just as Ji Liangchuan excitedly went downstairs to change his clothes, the sweetly smiling and petite Bai Jiao couldn't help but move a little closer to Shen Qiang. Her beautiful eyes brimming with surprise, she said, "Shen Qiang, I've realized that you really are incredible."

"The entrepreneur banquet made it clear that no one was allowed to bring an entourage, but to my astonishment, you actually could."

Xu Nan's eyes also shone with admiration: "It is indeed surprising; I didn't expect that Shen Qiang would have privileges at such an event. It has made me deeply aware that I might have underestimated you."

Shen Qiang looked at them both with a smile and said, "Since you both admire me so much, why not resign from your jobs and come work as my assistants?"

Upon hearing this, both of them scoffed in unison.

"He's so vain, I mean, I am the successor to Cheng Xinyi—our family is full of masters, rich enough to rival countries, and just a stomp from us would make the whole of Huaxia tremble. Some people really do have the nerve to say such things," Bai Jiao said with a laugh looking at Xu Nan.

Leaning casually on a mahogany chair, Xu Nan smiled and said softly with a hint of mockery, "He's seriously ill; he needs a strong dose of medicine."

Shen Qiang laughed off their playful mockery.

Xiu Ju, who had been enjoying the banter from the sidelines, chimed in teasingly, "My Shen Qiang is really capable, you two shouldn't disparage the grapes as sour just because you can't reach them."

Upon hearing this, Xu Nan and Bai Jiao were both taken aback, then, unexpectedly, they offered no retort.

Soon, it was nearly noon.

When they came down from upstairs.

Dressed in a new suit and a seriously wide tie, Ji Liangchuan indeed looked like a man of distinction as he stood at the bottom of the stairs.

Tall and handsome, shining shoes, and a perfectly tailored suit, he actually did exude an air of a successful person.

But upon seeing him, Bai Jiao's eyes crinkled with mirth as she said, "Ji Liangchuan, you're so formal, if I didn't know you better, I'd think you were an insurance salesman."

Xu Nan also laughed, "That's way too formal, almost no different from a real estate agent. Take a look at Shen Qiang."

Ji Liangchuan felt awkward.

Only then did he notice that Shen Qiang was dressed as usual: understated yet tasteful sneakers, simple casual trousers without any flashy details, and an ordinary-looking short-sleeved polo shirt, exuding a low-key but confident aura all over.

Paired with a sunny smile, it gave off an impression of vitality, lazily carefree, revealing a casual savoir-faire at all times.

In comparison to Ji Liangchuan's stiff and formal attire.

This was what a boss looked like.

And Ji Liangchuan seemed just like a driver.

They got into the luxurious business sedan.

Aside from the driver, there was only Xiu Ju, Ji Liangchuan, and Shen Qiang in the car.

After nervously adjusting his tie, Ji Liangchuan turned to Shen Qiang, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Shen Qiang, thank you. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't be able to attend today's banquet at all."

Shen Qiang smiled calmly and replied, "It was no trouble at all. If it makes you uncomfortable, you can think of it as my way of repaying you for your stance that day at the Shen family."

Ji Liangchuan was startled for a moment, fell silent, and then said, "Are you implying that we are friends?"

"Ordinary friends," Shen Qiang said calmly, raising an eyebrow: "The day the Long Yan Sword Sect came knocking on my door, threatening to kill all my friends, and you dared to speak up, you became my friend."

Ji Liangchuan's eyes lit up, "Does that mean I can come find you anytime in the future? We can still play basketball together!"

Shen Qiang glanced at him, "No, Ju Yang is my girlfriend, and she wouldn't like to see you around me."

Ji Liangchuan was stunned, "Hey, you've got to be kidding, this is between you and me, what does it have to do with her?"

"It does, and it's serious!" Shen Qiang nodded solemnly.

Ji Liangchuan had no choice but to feel helpless.

Just then, as it neared noon, the roads began to get congested. With the time for the banquet drawing close, the traffic was at a standstill. Not only Ji Liangchuan was getting anxious, but Xu Nan and Bai Jiao also started to make frantic calls.

"Shen Qiang, what should we do? The traffic is so bad, we're going to be late, and that will leave a bad impression on those businessmen."

"It's too urgent, we're going to be late. If we arrive only to find leftover scraps on the table, that would be so embarrassing."

Faced with their anxiety, Shen Qiang just smiled slightly, "Don't worry."

Twenty minutes later.

In front of the City Hall.

Director Liu from the Provincial Investment Promotion Agency patiently stood at the entrance.

At that moment, standing beside him, the Chairman of Long Yan Group glanced at his watch with a smile and said with veiled criticism, "A man stands with nothing if he has no trust. The lunch banquet time has already arrived, but Shen Qiang hasn't. Such an arrogant person, obviously doesn't take Director Liu seriously."

Director Liu calmly looked at him and smiled, "Traffic in Provincial City is very congested; this is not an individual problem of Shen Qiang."

The Chairman of Long Yan Group smiled, "Shen Qiang is an idler. He could have set out half an hour or an hour earlier. His not arriving on time, making all of us stand here waiting foolishly, is simply arrogant to the point of raising one's ire."

Director Liu smiled, "It seems that Long Yan Group has some friction with Tianyou Pharmaceutical Care. Otherwise, Chairman Li is always very patient."

Realizing that his attempt to instigate a rift between the Investment Promotion Agency and Shen Qiang had been seen through, the Chairman of Long Yan Group smiled slightly and said, "You are mistaken. Our Long Yan Group has a good relationship with Tianyou Medicine. Moreover, I personally like young people full of vigor like Shen Qiang."

"Then, just like everyone else, wait patiently," Director Liu said with a light smile.

The Chairman of Long Yan Group's expression turned slightly unpleasant, but he had nothing else to say.

Not only that.

In front of the hall, a large number of business leaders from within the province had gathered. Not just that, even the leaders of foreign visiting groups were respectfully standing at the entrance of the hall.

This made his gaze grow more displeased.

But since Director Liu was waiting patiently, aside from sulking, there was nothing he could do.

Gradually, half an hour passed.

It was now half-past twelve.

Just as the Chairman of Long Yan Group was contemplating how to mock Shen Qiang upon his arrival,

An exclamation from the leader of the visiting team, who had been waiting numbly among the crowd, suddenly broke the silence. In his strangely-accented Chinese, he cried out ecstatically, "Look, it's Shen Qiang, the boss of Tianyou Medicine! The developer of Streptococcus Liquid! He's here, he's actually here! Such happiness comes so suddenly, I never imagined I would have the honor of meeting such a great scientist!"

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