Inheritance of Two Trillion

Chapter 580: Chapter 580 You can’t mock Bai Xiaosheng!_1

The time was noon.

Bai Xiaosheng was in a good mood, and invited Song Yiming and Lin Weiwei to have lunch with him at the employee cafeteria.

The employee cafeteria had ”private rooms” as well, which were small rooms for four, each with a glass door. It was nice to close the door, eat, and talk inside.

Bai Xiaosheng was sitting inside. His large plate contained crispy roast duck, sweet and sour pork slices, stir-fried vegetables, fried mushrooms, a steamed bun, a freshly baked flatbread, and a bowl of seaweed egg drop soup. It all looked quite sumptuous. When in a good mood, one naturally has a better appetite.

Song Yiming’s plate was equally rich, with tender fried pork loin, Mei Cai Kou Rou, mixed stir-fry, and jellyfish salad with vinegar.

Lin Weiwei’s meal was much simpler, consisting solely of green vegetables and vegetarian dishes, without any staple food. She wasn’t a vegetarian, but today was her dieting day.

Looking at the food, Bai Xiaosheng was eager to eat, but he had hardly taken a few bites when his phone rang.

”Who is this?” Bai Xiaosheng put down his chopsticks reluctantly and took out his phone to look.

Seeing the name, Bai Xiaosheng was startled, ”Mr. Ji?”

This was Ji Mingyang’s private number, not accessible to the average person.

Bai Xiaosheng quickly answered the phone and put it to his ear, ”Mr. Ji, you wanted to see me?”

”Sheng, what are you up to?” Ji Mingyang’s tone was gentle.

”Eating.” Bai Xiaosheng said, somewhat puzzled.

What else could he be doing at this time?

”Mr. Ji, have you eaten yet? If not, come join us. The food is pretty good at our cafeteria!” Bai Xiaosheng joked with the mayor, chattering away.

Lin Weiwei and Song Yiming couldn’t help but admire him.

Just look, only their Mr. Bai could talk to the mayor like this.

”Sheng!” Ji Mingyang’s voice paused, and in that pause, a hint of heaviness could be discerned, ”I have something to tell you.”

Bai Xiaosheng sensed something was amiss, and his smile faded away.

”What’s happened, Mr. Ji?”

Watching Bai Xiaosheng’s change of expression and hearing his words, Lin Weiwei and Song Yiming exchanged glances and also put down their chopsticks.

It seemed like something serious had happened!

”Tianzheng Media from Langbei City reported to the provincial authorities an hour ago and has... passed,” Ji Mingyang said gravely.

Bai Xiaosheng was slightly taken aback, then his expression became somber.

On the phone, Ji Mingyang continued, ”The minister has confirmed that they are the first to acquire the provincial benchmark enterprise spot, and that’s set in stone. As for us... we...”

Ji Mingyang hesitated, uncertain how best to convey the message.

Zhongjing Media was just a step behind in timing, that was all.

But in terms of outcome, it was a matter of heaven and earth.

Enterprises from other municipalities might be slower in the review process, but that didn’t matter. They didn’t face the issue of duplication or homogenization, and if they passed the assessment, they would secure a spot! The authorities wanted to establish benchmarks in various industries.

Zhongjing Media was different. Even if it was superior to most other enterprises, so what? Among the ten provincial benchmark enterprise spots, the one belonging to the media industry had already been snatched away by Tianzheng Media!

There was no spot left for Zhongjing Media!

And Zhongjing Media could only watch helplessly as other, sometimes inferior, enterprises surpassed it and claimed the spots and honors.

Ji Mingyang was also upset.

”Sheng, the minister’s message is that we shouldn’t overvalue these superficial honors but should focus on doing our own work, which is the correct path. I hope you won’t be too upset,” Ji Mingyang sighed, ”Keep the briefing for tomorrow as scheduled, I hope that you... can adjust your mood.”

Having said that, Ji Mingyang quietly waited for Bai Xiaosheng’s response.

Anger, grievance, shouting, and yelling.

Ji Mingyang had prepared himself for the onslaught of negative emotions.

After all, Bai Xiaosheng was still a young man, and no matter what his reaction would be, Ji Mingyang understood and was ready to accommodate him.

”Mr. Ji, I’m aware,” Bai Xiaosheng finally spoke up.

His voice, as always, was calm and even devoid of any ripples.

”We will be ready and face tomorrow’s report with all our might,” Bai Xiaosheng said.

There was no sense of grievance, no protestations, just his usual equanimity.

This tranquility made Ji Mingyang want to cheer him on.

”One may lose a battle but not lose their poise. Bai Xiaosheng, well done!” Ji Mingyang exclaimed.

After hanging up the phone, Bai Xiaosheng saw Lin Weiwei and Song Yiming gazing intently at him and immediately smiled.

”It’s nothing, let’s eat!” Bai Xiaosheng said just four words and then, without another word, buried his head in his food, wolfing it down.

What was this minor setback anyway!

He, Bai Xiaosheng, had been framed in college, had suffered far more grievances in Tiannan!

What was this slight defeat!

Lin Weiwei and Song Yiming exchanged a hesitant look. They hadn’t heard what Ji Mingyang said, nor could they gather any information from Bai Xiaosheng’s words, but they knew—something was amiss!

Of course, since Bai Xiaosheng didn’t speak of it, they didn’t ask.

While eating, Bai Xiaosheng seemed a bit distracted, his gaze flickering but not showing a trace of dejection.

The worst-case scenario had not been something he hadn’t considered!

At this moment.

Zhongjing, city hall.

Ji Mingyang sat in his chair, silent.

Zhang Meng sighed softly at his side. On the drive back the day the third-phase report was completed, he had still been thinking about what to do in case of failure, not expecting it to really happen.

Though he had seemed open-minded then, now that it had come to a head, even he felt a twinge of frustration.

After working so hard for so long, and with success seemingly within reach, they had stumbled at the last hurdle.

”Mayor, please take it easy. It’s come to this now, and just like you said to Bai Xiaosheng, one may lose a battle but not lose their poise,” Zhang Meng hardly knew how to offer consolation.

Ji Mingyang sighed, ”I’m fine. It’s not about me, I just think it’s unfair for Bai Xiaosheng...”

He was speaking when his phone rang.

”Su Shu?” Ji Mingyang picked up the phone and immediately frowned, ”What does she want by calling now?”

Out of courtesy, Ji Mingyang answered nonetheless.

”Ji, how are you feeling now?” Mayor Su Shu laughed over the phone.

”I feel fine, Su Shu. You seem to be in a good mood as well! Congratulations!” Ji Mingyang snorted coldly.

”Oh, thank you,” Mayor Su Shu giggled over the phone. ”I can imagine your expression just from the sound of your voice! You know, Ji Mingyang, how often have you lost to me? One or two times wouldn’t make much difference to you!”

”Did you call just to mock me?” Ji Mingyang snorted again.

”It’s more of a sympathizing visit... Plus, I just wanted to check on your mood!” Su Shu laughed, ”Ji, I have to tell you, losing is no shame for you. That Mu Beichen of mine is ten years older than your Bai Xiaosheng! In experience, competence, and capability, he is far beyond him. Tell me, how could you win? The key is, you chose the wrong person!”

Ji Mingyang remained silent, and after a long moment, he spoke seriously into the phone.

”Su Shu, you can mock me, that’s fine! But mocking Bai Xiaosheng, that’s not okay! Don’t think that just because Mu Beichen has luckily won once, he is stronger than Bai Xiaosheng. You’ll never understand the kind of miracles a person like Bai Xiaosheng can create!”