Chapter 32: Backing

Cen Mo truly could not fathom why Mr. Shen of Shengda had an identical twin brother who was never mentioned in any records, nor had the Shen family ever publicly acknowledged his existence.

It was all too strange. Why would a wealthy young man of noble birth choose to live in anonymity? Logically, one would expect him to be flamboyant, especially since his brother had inherited the family business and become the president of Shengda. By that reasoning, this Shen Xilin should also hold a key position within the company.

Yet, that was clearly not the case; otherwise, he would not have needed to impersonate Shen Xinian to gain entry, nor would he have had to resort to deceitful antics.

To be honest, the two brothers looked far too similar. The only reason Cen Mo had been able to tell them apart was by observing his gait from behind; she possessed a keen talent for facial recognition, which allowed her to spot the minute differences between them. Most people, even if they noticed something was off, would likely not dare to be certain. After all, who would have guessed that the head of Shengda had an undisclosed brother?

Ahead, the standoff between Su Xingzhi and Shen Xinian continued. Neither man spoke; they simply gazed quietly at one another. Su Xingzhi clearly knew this person and likely had some history with him. He had only been momentarily fooled because he could not recognize faces, but even if he could, an ordinary person would likely have been unable to tell them apart anyway.

Cen Mo observed them for a while and reached this conclusion, feeling an underlying sense of worry. The atmosphere between the two men was far too tense—it felt as if they were bitter enemies. Perhaps due to her feelings for Su Xingzhi, she found Shen Xilin’s aura to be sinister and off-putting, despite him being just as tall and handsome as his brother.

Just then, a few men walked over with long, purposeful strides. It was Shen Xinian himself, wearing the same suit and hairstyle. The two brothers looked like a real and a fake Sun Wukong; the scene was profoundly bizarre.

Waving his subordinates away, Shen Xinian frowned, a flash of disdain in his eyes. "Xilin, what are you doing here?"

"Brother." Shen Xilin flashed a grin, raising a hand to greet him. "You never come to see me, so I missed you."

Shen Xinian’s expression soured further. Mindful of the outsiders present, he suppressed his temper and looked his brother up and down. "What are you wearing? Who are you trying to impress, dressing like this?"

"Is it not good, brother?" Shen Xilin’s smile remained unchanged as he spread his arms to display his suit. "I think you look quite dashing in this style."

"Shen Xilin!" Shen Xinian barked in a low voice. The tension between the brothers was palpable.

Aren’t twins supposed to have a close bond? Don’t they usually share a psychic connection? Yet, looking at these two, that was clearly not the case.

Shen Xinian lowered his head to compose himself before pointing toward the exit. "Go home. Don't show your face here." His tone was an absolute command, clearly conveying a desire for his brother to vanish immediately.

"Fine, I'm going." After a long moment of deadlock, Shen Xilin nodded, turned, and sauntered away, still wearing that same smile.

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Cen Mo felt that as he passed her, he gave her a deep, lingering look, his mouth curling into a twisted, sinister expression. Feeling uneasy, she frowned and stepped aside.

"Come here."

Hearing Su Xingzhi call for her, she walked over quickly.

Shen Xinian coughed, looking extremely awkward. "My apologies, Mr. Su. That was my brother. He has a rather outgoing personality and likes to joke around. I hope he didn't cause any offense?"

"It’s fine," Su Xingzhi replied coolly. His eyes shifted to Cen Mo, and only once she had reached his side did he look away.

The two men exchanged a few more words, and soon the other executives caught up, putting the small incident behind them. However, doubts lingered in Cen Mo’s mind. With so many people around, she had no chance to speak with Su Xingzhi, so she remained by his side.

Since they hadn't known they would be golfing, no one had brought equipment. Fortunately, the course provided everything. Once prepared, they boarded a shuttle bus to the green. The terrain was remarkably flat, surrounded by lush grass, and the environment and air were quite pleasant.

Cen Mo had never played the sport before and naturally didn't know how to start. Besides, the trip was for negotiations, so she simply followed Su Xingzhi, handing him towels and water.

Because some people’s original attire wasn't suitable for golf, they changed clothes, rendering previous styles irrelevant. Su Xingzhi had to rely on hairstyles and silhouettes to identify people. Most of these middle-aged men had similar hairstyles, aside from the bald ones. Cen Mo stared intently, feeling anxious, but with no opportunity to speak to Su Xingzhi alone, she could only stand guard.

When someone finally approached to make small talk, she seized the chance to whisper a reminder while handing him water: "Du Hua, the Vice President of Shengda."

The man nodded slightly, his expression unchanged as he conversed with the guest with practiced ease.

Although golf was intended to be a leisure activity, it was hardly relaxing. Cen Mo remained on high alert, fearing a mishap. There was no shade on the course, and the area was vast. After standing for a while, the overhead sun made her feel dizzy, especially since the alcohol she’d had the night before was still affecting her.

"Go to the lounge and wait for me," Su Xingzhi said after hitting a ball. Seeing her condition, he frowned.

Cen Mo didn't move. She was still on the clock; if she left, things might go wrong. What if someone else came to talk to him?

"Go," the man said, his tone deepening into an order.

Cen Mo nodded. A moment later, a caddie drove a shuttle over, and she took it to the lounge.

It was much cooler inside than under the scorching sun. The décor was luxurious, featuring large leather sofas and a fully equipped water station. She could even call a waiter for service. With everyone else on the course, the lounge was empty. Cen Mo sat on the sofa, leaned back, and closed her eyes to rest, gradually regaining her strength.

She hadn't eaten properly for a week due to a dental procedure, and her appetite had been poor even after recovering. She had lost weight, and her resistance seemed to have weakened.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from outside. A man was entering.

Cen Mo opened her eyes, looking toward the door and expecting one of the golfers to return. Instead, she saw a man in a suit whose appearance was identical to Shen Xinian’s.

It was Shen Xilin, still wearing the same outfit, though his hair was now let down. Strands of it covered one eye, giving him a somewhat rebellious, "non-mainstream" look.

Cen Mo remained seated, watching him in silence. Though she suspected he was here for her, she decided to stay calm and see what his intentions were.

Shen Xilin kept his smirking expression. He snapped his fingers to summon a waiter and pointed at Cen Mo. "How are you working here? You don't even know how to properly entertain such a beautiful lady. Bring out the best we have; don't be negligent."

The waiter, startled by his demeanor, hurried off to prepare. Moments later, he returned with a few others, filling the table with every wine and fruit platter on the menu.

Cen Mo leaned back, still silent. She hadn't ordered any of it and wouldn't eat it, so she didn't care what he did.

Satisfied, Shen Xilin sat down opposite her, crossed his legs, and lit a cigarette with a swagger. Soon, the room was filled with smoke.

Cen Mo coughed, feeling irritated. She stood up, ready to leave. Shen Xilin’s gaze was malicious, and she preferred to have as little contact with him as possible.

"What is your relationship with Su Xingzhi?" Shen Xilin asked from behind her.

Without his brother’s voice to mimic, his natural tone was higher-pitched, carrying an inexplicably malicious undertone.

Cen Mo said nothing. She had reached the lounge door and was about to push it open.

"It seems he’s already told you about his face blindness, hasn't he? How rare. Su Xingzhi is actually willing to trust someone—and a woman, at that," he said slowly.

Cen Mo paused, then slowly turned around. Not knowing if he was bluffing, she arched an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, so you really do know." Shen Xilin looked at her, his expression becoming even more smug. "Su Xingzhi doesn't just have face blindness; he hates physical contact and has a moderate case of mysophobia. Am I right?"

The fact that he knew everything sent a shiver through Cen Mo. Who was he? Why did he know Su Xingzhi so well? Did they have some past grievance? These questions swirled in her mind, making her restless. This man certainly harbored malice toward Su Xingzhi; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to tell her these things.

Confirming this, Cen Mo walked back and sat on the sofa. She asked calmly, "How do you know Mr. Su? What do you want from him?"

"So you really do care." Shen Xilin smiled, leaning forward with interest, his eyes locked on her face. "Tell me, what is your relationship? Have you slept together? You’re young, beautiful, and have a great figure. Is he keeping you? Tell me, can he actually satisfy you?"

His gaze was lecherous, and his question was crude. Cen Mo sat there, frowning, yet her expression remained composed. "It seems you have no intention of answering my questions. In that case, I’m leaving."

If he thought such words would make her feel ashamed, he was sorely mistaken. She hadn't done those things, so why would she feel embarrassed? And even if she had, it was a private matter—none of his business.