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At lunchtime, Qin Yu saw Yu Qing in the company cafeteria; she was dining with Yu Fei.
He carried his tray over. “May I interrupt you for two minutes?”
Yu Fei: “Sit down, it’s no problem. We’re just chatting casually.”
Qin Yu sat next to Yu Qing. “Aren’t you supposed to go to New Tech today? Or have you already been and returned?”
Yu Qing shook her head. “I didn’t go. There was a last-minute change in strategy.”
Yu Fei had previously dealt with Qiao Han. One of her clients had a contract dispute with New Tech. Qiao Han was ruthless—he would willingly harm himself to strike at others.
Even if he had to sacrifice a thousand, he wouldn’t hesitate.
After much deliberation, Yu Qing said, “There are still several thorny lawsuits on New Tech’s side that must be resolved before investing, or it will affect the valuation. At that time, let Sister Yu Fei handle it, and you follow up. I’ll deal with the two difficult and tight-lipped directors from Fu Group on the securities firm’s side.”
As for the transfer of control, “Let me return to our company first.”
Qin Yu was slightly taken aback. “Are you resigning?”
Yu Qing: “Changing the way we work together. At that time, I’ll hire you and Sister Yu Fei as legal consultants for Lemong Beverages and Lemong Technology at a high salary.”
Qin Yu thoughtfully said, “So, you’re preparing to drastically rebuild the company structure?”
Yu Qing nodded.
Otherwise, how could they compete with Fu Jichen’s company?
On deeper details, Qin Yu didn’t ask further; these involved trade secrets.
“Enjoy your meal.”
He found an empty seat with his tray, took out his phone, and started eating while chatting.
Yu Qing and Yu Fei were already used to this. Every noon, he used lunchtime to chat with his girlfriend. Occasionally, they even video-called.
Speaking of Qin Yu’s girlfriend, “What a lucky little girl. They’ve been together for more than ten years, from their first year of high school until now. Every day is like the beginning of a romance.”
Yu Fei couldn’t help but sigh. “In the past, I thought long-distance relationships were unreliable, but actually, it’s about finding the right person. If you find the wrong person, even working in the same company won’t stop him from straying.”
“But indeed, few long-distance relationships end successfully.”
Regarding the inherent flaws of many men, Yu Qing elaborated, “Distance does create beauty—whether in marriage or romance. With distance, there will inevitably be beauty, but this beauty has nothing to do with you. It’s the beauty of other women in your man’s eyes.”
Yu Fei smiled, finding it interesting, and gave a thumbs-up. “Profound.”
She herself had deep feelings about this.
Back then, it was the same with her and Lu Chen.
Distance created beauty.
But not her own beauty.
“So, whether in the same city or long-distance, one sentence: self-disciplined good men are rare. Anytime, love yourself first. Once you’ve loved yourself well, you can love others better. This principle needs to be told to Chen Yan someday. Otherwise, she might end up with nothing.”
“You’re young, but you see things quite clearly.” Yu Fei asked, “Is it because you’ve seen through everything that you don’t want to get married, or even date?”
“Maybe.”
Yu Qing herself hadn’t thought deeply about this question.
While they were talking, Yu Fei received a call—it was her ex-husband, Lu Chen.
“What’s the matter?” Her tone instantly lost its warmth.
Lu Chen: “I’m back in Beijing today. I want to see my son tonight. It’s been a long time since the three of us had dinner together. What time do you get off work? I’ll come pick you up.”
“No need for President Lu to trouble himself. You pick up our son after school, send me the restaurant address, and I’ll go by myself.”
The call ended.
“Yu Fei is still willing to have dinner with you?” Fu Jichen tossed a cigarette to Lu Chen.
Lu Chen had returned from the airport without resting and went straight to Fu Group to settle the infringement case with Lemong. He came to sign next year’s cooperation contract.
After signing, he sat with Fu Jichen for a while.
Talking about his ex-wife, Lu Chen sighed.
“She eats with me for the sake of our son’s mood, not to give me face.”
On this point, Yu Fei did well. Regardless of how the adults were, she always made time for family gatherings so her son could enjoy a family atmosphere.
From their arguments to their divorce, it took nearly a year intermittently.
Even during that year, no matter how bad or sad Yu Fei felt, she never took it out on her son. As long as her son was home, she acted as usual.
As if nothing had happened.
But towards him, she only showed disgust.
Since the divorce, whenever Yu Fei called him, it was always about money.
Lu Chen lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and found it tasteless.
Headache.
Tired and sleepy.
He extinguished it.
“You’re busy. I’ll go back.”
Go home to adjust the time difference and pick up his son after school.
Fu Jichen held a cigarette between his fingers, unlit, lightly tapping it on the cigarette box.
He looked at Lu Chen. “Tomorrow is my birthday.”
Lu Chen slowly nodded. “Happy birthday.”
Fu Jichen: “...”
He didn’t argue with someone suffering from jet lag.
Lu Chen was drowsy at the moment, obviously not grasping the deeper meaning of Fu Jichen’s sudden statement.
Moreover, all he was thinking about now was the dinner with Yu Fei tonight.
His brain short-circuited.
Fu Jichen spoke bluntly, “Yu Qing doesn’t know my birthday and probably won’t prepare a gift for me. I want you…”
Lu Chen interrupted him. “You… want me to buy you a birthday present?”
Fu Jichen stuffed the cigarette back into the pack, waved his hand. “Go away. Call me when you’re clear-headed!”
Lu Chen had already stood up but sat back down.
Drank half a glass of cold water.
“I’m so tired now; only my eyes are open. My brain simply can’t function. Just say it.”
Fu Jichen: “Aren’t you having dinner with Yu Fei tonight? Ask her to casually mention my birthday to Yu Qing tomorrow morning.”
Lu Chen: “... Fu Jichen, have you reached this level of self-deception?”
Fu Jichen didn’t care about Lu Chen’s sarcasm. “I want to receive a birthday gift from Yu Qing.”
“Do you lack gifts? If you really want, I’ll rally the group to donate money and buy you a truckload. Two truckloads if you want!”
“I only lack a gift from Yu Qing.”
Lu Chen surrendered, speechless.
________________________________________
At eight o’clock in the evening, Fu Jichen was still working overtime at the company when he received a call from Yu Qing.
This was their first call of the day.
Once busy, Yu Qing basically forgot about him.
He had long been accustomed to it.
“President Fu, hello.”
“Mm. Are you done with work?”
“No. But I miss you. What should I do?”
Fu Jichen almost didn’t catch this line of flirtation. “I’ll come pick you up.”
“But I want to see you right now.”
Her gentle coquetry traveled through the electric current, piercing the eardrum and hitting the heart directly.
Fu Jichen put down his work. “Let’s video call first.”
“Video calling costs a lot of data.”
“...”
The flirtatious atmosphere was instantly shattered.
“Open the door for me in five minutes. I’ll be turning into Fu Group’s underground parking lot.”
She ended the call.
Yu Qing tossed her phone onto the passenger seat.
After work, she had gone shopping and bought a gift, coming directly from the mall.
Fu Jichen waited by the elevator to greet her.
The private elevator doors slowly opened, revealing her mischievous appearance. She was holding a beautifully wrapped gift.
“President Fu, good evening.”
Not sure if it was for him, Fu Jichen pretended not to know. “Did you go shopping?”
“Mm.”
She walked ahead, and Fu Jichen followed behind. He sent a message to Lu Chen: [Thanks.]
Lu Chen: [Don’t thank me yet. I don’t know if Yu Fei is willing to help. When we’re almost done eating, I’ll mention it to her. I’ll let you know as soon as there’s good news.]
“?”
So it wasn’t Yu Fei who mentioned it.
Fu Jichen looked up at Yu Qing’s back. So she remembered his birthday.
Back in the office, the door closed.
Yu Qing handed him the gift with both hands. “For my boyfriend. I hope we have pleasant battles in the future.”
This blessing sounded a bit off.
Pleasant battles?
Fu Jichen understood.
But he was still happy to receive her gift.
He teased her, using this opportunity to remind her that his birthday was approaching. “Thank you for your birthday gift. How did you find out my birthday? Did you check the internal network or look at my ID?”
Yu Qing: “...”
Blinked.
Today was his birthday?
What a coincidence?
From her expression, Fu Jichen confirmed that she had no idea about his birthday; she just happened to give him a gift today.
“Happy birthday, my President Fu.”
Yu Qing set the mood first.
She stepped forward and hugged him. “Thirty years ago today, a smart and handsome little prince was born. Thirty years later, I am fortunate to meet him.”
Fu Jichen interrupted her. “My birthday is tomorrow.”
Holding back laughter, Yu Qing resolutely didn’t abandon saving the situation: “Thirty years ago today, the beautiful and great mother of the little prince was about to give birth, amidst everyone’s blessings and anticipation. The next day, a smart and handsome little prince was born. Thirty years later, I am fortunate to meet him. He is my first love, Fu Jichen. Dear, happy birthday. Let’s celebrate.”
With those words, both of them burst into laughter.
Especially Yu Qing, laughing uncontrollably in Fu Jichen’s arms.
Fu Jichen moved his hands behind her back and began unwrapping the gift.
Yu Qing calmed her breathing, having laughed until tears nearly fell.
“My birthday is tomorrow. Remember that.”
Yu Qing looked up at him. “Is tomorrow really your birthday?”
Busy unwrapping the gift, Fu Jichen casually replied, “Mm. In a moment, I’ll send you a photo of my ID.”
The gift turned out to be a golden piggy bank shaped like a cat.
“Why are you giving me a piggy bank?” Fu Jichen didn’t understand.
Yu Qing got up from his embrace. “When you publicly declared us last night, you should’ve thought about what Grandpa would do, right?”
Fu Jichen nodded. Whether public or not, as long as he and Yu Qing were together, they would eventually face Grandpa Yu’s test—many hurdles.
Fu Group and the Feng family were one interest group.
The Yu family and the Qin family were another interest group.
Competing parties wouldn’t give up the meat that was already in their mouths.
If they gave it up, they would starve to death.
Young people’s romance, to Grandpa Yu, was the least reliable thing. Grandpa Yu wouldn’t gamble the commercial map that the Yu family had built over the years on whether he and Yu Qing could stay together forever.
Yu Qing: “After finishing this project, I will return to Lemong and partner with Qin Moling. This is the task and test given by my grandfather.”
To keep her head clear.
To learn more from Fu Jichen—always prioritize the company’s interests.
“At that time, between you and me, I won’t let you win, and you definitely won’t let me win either.”
She pointed to the piggy bank. “When we face each other, if I hurt you, you write down how you feel that day and put it inside. After a while, I’ll open it and take a look.”
Fu Jichen stared at her face, his Adam’s apple moving slightly a few times. “Thank you.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I hope that one day we can collaborate in some field. Turn our purely competitive relationship into a cooperative-competitive one.”
Yu Qing hugged his neck. “Even if we fight every day, after work, you must still hug your little goldfish.”
Fu Jichen lowered his head and kissed her lips.
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