Chapter 59: Not a great first impression (2)
Han Huizhong, the CEO of Han Corps at that time, had casually come to meet Zhiyuan and Zizi in college. He had a meeting at a nearby place, and he was bored so why not visit his grandchildren?
He looked at his assistant in the car and warned, "If something interesting doesn't happen in Zhiyuan's college today, then I am gonna deduct your salary as your punishment. That meeting was boring as hell, and you made me attend it."
The assistant shed invisible tears.
But it was an important meeting, Sir! How could have we missed it? Why target my salary?
When they reached the college, his powerful entrance alone scared the shit out of the students. His commanding aura and presence were not to be trifled with. There was wickedness in his gaze that steered everyone away from him.
"Such young and foolish children," he snickered as he looked around at the students.
The assistant's mouth twitched. "Why foolish?"
Han Huizhong devilishly chuckled. "Because they only learn maturity after they are thrown into the adult's world. That is the real hell. Until then, they are just spoiled and foolish and ignorant."
"Your grandchildren are here too."
"And I include them as well when I say spoiled, foolish and ignorant."
"..."
So merciless towards his own kin too…
"Whatever. Where is Zizi's classroom? I will meet her first."
Han Huizhong strode along the corridor with the students maintaining a safe distance from him.
Some of them whispered.
"Hey, he is Han Zhiyuan and Han Zizi's grandfather."
"He is the CEO of Han Corps!"
"Ugh, he looks so scary. How do they live with him?"
"True. I pity Han Zhiyuan and Han Zizi."
As Han Huizhong found the classroom he was looking for, he saw that the back door was open. He heard a few students laughing and mocking someone. When he reached closer, he saw a young woman on the podium, frozen to her spot. He could see her eyes faintly shining with tears.
One glance at her, and he understood that she was a nervous wreck. She probably hated giving public appearances and speeches because it terrified her.
He leaned on the side of the wall and observed her.
That woman said nothing the whole time she was being mocked. She was too afraid to open her mouth and in the end, Zizi and Shuang had to step up for her help.
That was his first impression of Xinyi.
A very bad impression considering how his personality was.
Weak, dependent for help, fearful, inconfident - all those things that he despised in people were present in that woman.
He felt that was her end, and her presentation would fail, but to his slight surprise, he saw the change in her demeanor. She seemed to be in some deep thought as she stared at the wall in front of her.
At the podium, Xinyi felt she couldn't end things here in defeat especially when Zizi and Shuang stood up for her.
She forced herself to calm down and remember what Zhiyuan had said to her.
'Think of your most important person.'
'Imagine that person smiling at you.'
Xinyi silently took a deep breath.
The most important people in my life.
She thought of her family - her father and her twin brother who always loved and supported her. She imagined them cheering her on that eased the nauseating feeling in her chest.
And then...came the face of the man equally important to her.
Han Zhiyuan.
The man she fell in love with. Her first crush, her first love that always made her heart skip a beat.
The thoughts of his warm and gentle demeanor and his reassuring voice filled her heart. When she imagined him smiling at her, the last of her anxiousness drowned away.
'You will do great. I know it.'
As she felt calm and settled down, Xinyi faced the class again and continued from where she left off. She sounded a little more confident than before. Some of them were still snickering at her and making faces, but she quickly looked away and ignored them.
Zizi brightened on seeing Xinyi recover whereas Shuang, who seemed to be sleeping, ever so faintly smiled.
Han Huizhong didn't understand what she did. His brows raised in amusement.
"Hooo...she has improved, but…"
Xinyi finished her presentation and could finally let out a deep breath.
The professor said, "Good work, Xinyi. Does anybody have any questions?"
The notorious bunch of students wanted to tease her by asking difficult questions, but because of Shuang's threat earlier, they grudgingly refrained and kept quiet.
"Well then you can go, Xinyi-"
"I have one question."
Everybody looked towards the back. Zizi widened her eyes.
"Grandpa."
Why is he standing there like that? Since when?
The professor was taken aback. "M-Mr. Han."
Han Huizhong ignored him and stared at Xinyi.
Xinyi was surprised, too, when Zizi addressed him as Grandpa.
So he is Zhiyuan and Zizi's grandfather…
She could feel the authority and dominance from his aura.
"Y-Yes, sir?"
Han Huizhong smiled. "Why weren't you looking your classmates straight in their eyes during your presentation? Presentations are not given by staring at a lifeless wall, young lady."
She stiffened.
"T-that…"
How could I say they were mocking me?
"Though I commend you for getting it together later, if I had been the judge, I would have failed you."
Xinyi froze. His sharp words cut straight through her.
The others enjoyed the show and started laughing once again.
Zizi stood up. "Grandpa! You are being too harsh. You didn't know what happened."
"Shut it, Zizi. I saw what happened. But I will still say that I would have failed her."
Xinyi's shoulders started shaking. Staring at the wall was the only thing she could think of to get through it.
"Yes sir...you are right. I-I am sorry. I know I am lacking, and I will work hard to improve my confidence."
Han Huizhong chuckled. "Well, well, I would love to see that one day."
But who knew that he would really witness it one day when he would make Xinyi the standing CEO of Han Corps.
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