At six in the morning one auspicious Sat.u.r.day, Chen Linyun, Xue Jinxu, and Xue Guangxi left their humble abode all well-dressed up, fresh and sharp-looking in their respective vibrant sports attire.  

Altogether they rode inside the car prepared by Butler Lee.

It was a Sat.u.r.day, and although Kang Sola was invited, she was not able to join them in the morning since she returned home late the night before.  Chen Linyun dotingly allowed her - and even urged her - to sleep in.  Kang Sola hesitatingly agreed but promised to follow in the middle of the day.

For this event, the company rented a large venue with complete sports facilities.  The employees were instructed to gather first at the gymnasium where the stage was set up. The other employees that were deployed in the field and on s.h.i.+ps were given a special excuse just to be able to partic.i.p.ate that day.  The company provided accommodation and shouldered travel expenses for those who were based in Shanghai, Tianjin, and other locations outside Beijing.  Only the core security group was left in their functions, for the time being, although effective s.h.i.+fting schemes were adopted to fully rotate the employees in their line of work.

The sports fest was scheduled to run for a whole month, with games and tournaments arranged within every week.  Those who would partic.i.p.ate in the compet.i.tions were free to leave their functions at those times.  The schedule of games for the entire duration of the sports fest was provided early on, even days before the inauguration of the event so that the departments could plan with their people's s.h.i.+ft a.s.signments.  All employees were exempted in their function on the opening day; however, on the succeeding days, all functions should be covered through s.h.i.+ft rotation.  It seemed to make sense to everyone.

At the opening event, the energy started high up in the sky.  The employees wore sports uniforms such as jerseys and cheerleading costumes in four colors: red, green, blue and yellow.  The colors represented the teams that would vie for the top spot.  It meant there were four teams, and each color was headed by members from top management, and owners. 

That explained the varying sports attire that the family wore.  Xue Jinxu wore a short red cottony dress with a collar, paired with rubber shoes while Chen Linyun donned a navy blue dry fit and white pants.  Xue Guangxi plainly wore the yellow basketball jersey uniform - a pair of a sleeveless top with number one at the back and its corresponding shorts ensemble. 

As for the green team, it was left under the leaders.h.i.+p of the young master, Xue Minhe who had not been partic.i.p.ating in any of the corporate events for a long time.  Thus, the green team's morale started extremely low, although no one showed it openly.  They still wore huge smiles on their faces and vowed not to let their team down.

Out of the four team leaders, Xue Guangxi was the only one who would play with the employees.  As bright as their color yellow, the team's energy soared high up in the sky reaching the zenith and even beyond.  At this point, everybody knew that Xue Guangxi's team was at an advantage.  They had a very hands-on, playing leader - an extremely energetic youth who excelled in sports. 

Everyone cheered early in the morning, and some could not help but gossip.

"Is it true that the young master would finally come today?"

"Nah, don't expect that much.  He wasn't present previously in much more serious transactions like contract signing and stuff, what importance does this sports fest have on him?"

"Yet, it's the annual sports fest.  I heard people talk that he really MIGHT show up today."

"I heard he's handsome and such a catch."

"I heard he's single."

"~Kyaaa!!!! Can't wait to see him in person, I'm a fan!" A lady employee giggled, and the other female staff joined fangirling with her."

"Hey, stop it, you guys, he's the boss!" A male comrade who was p.i.s.sed by these ladies' actions when they - ordinary single men - were there around them aplenty never got noticed at all.

"Nothing's wrong with fangirling, kyaaa!!!!  Suddenly it's so hot in here.  Has the air condition been turned on?"

"It isn't that hot yet.  It's in your imagination." The bitterness in the male voice was apparent.

"The program's starting soon.  Let's stand by."

It was half-past seven in the morning, the mic echoed with a familiar male voice calling everyone's attention at the gymnasium.  Soon after, the PR director Xiao Ye together with the Human Resources Director, Mister Zhang Yong proceeded in opening the event.  At the front row just below the stage, all three of the elite owners club - Chen Linyun, Xue Jinxu, and Xue Guangxi were seated comfortably.  The employees also settled on the seats behind them.

Although n.o.body noticed, Xue Jinxu's pale face wore such an anxious expression and couldn't help but fidget on her chair.  The husband beside her wrapped one arm around her shoulders in an attempt to pacify her, and also to hold her in place.  Chen Linyun's other hand gave her soft delicate hands that were rested on her lap a little squeeze, as if to tell her, "Relax, I got this."

Xue Jinxu turned her head and probed her husband's face.  Her heart was far from being relaxed.  She could understand well enough what her husband's body language meant.  Other than pacifying her, it could also be read as "You're not allowed to go anywhere" or "Stay here safely by my side."

She begged and pleaded with her doe eyes.  Chen Linyun chuckled for a bit before whispering.  He couldn't keep the silence between them any longer.  He asked, "Xue Jinxu, don't you trust me?"

"I do… But…" She answered but her voice but her hesitancy revealed itself.

"I won't hold you down beside me and lose face without doing anything.  So you just have to rely on me today, hmm?"

With a hushed voice only the two of them could hear, she bugged him further, "Have you convinced him?  Will he show up?  Just look at the green team's long faces.  The event has not started yet but look at how defeated they look.  What if after this event, rather than boosting up their morale, they come up with the decision that we don't want?"

"So if he doesn't show up you will pretend to be him?"

"For just a short amount of time.  I have done it before.  It's harmless.  Although we're outside, it's within the company's premises.  It should be safe."

"We wouldn't reach that point, so this discussion is futile." Chen Linyun enigmatically declared.

This statement silenced Xue Jinxu for a short while.  "So you mean…"

"You'll see for yourself."

Director Xiao Ye and Director Zhang Yong kept the audience's interest successfully with their animated spiel.  It took a few minutes to explain the purpose of the event, and the mechanics of the whole sports fest, as well as the corresponding rewards and point system.  The employees cheered when they heard the latter.  Xue Guangxi snickered in his seat.

At long last, Director Xiao Ye exclaimed the introduction.

"The time that we were all waiting for has come.  Ladies and gentlemen, all Xue s.h.i.+pping employees, I am deeply honored to present to you, our very own President, the young master himself, to give the opening remarks - President Xue Minhe!!!"

The audience roared in applause.  Some people stood up to get a better view of him.  Some prepared their cameras and cellphones.

In a while, a deep velvety male voice emerged in the middle of the audience's chaos.

"Dearest Xue s.h.i.+pping employees, good morning."