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The knock sounded again, and Yu Jingze assumed Zhou Siyuan had returned. He was contemplating how to handle the situation when his secretary’s voice came from outside: “President Yu, Chairman Yu is here.”
Yu Jingze was momentarily stunned. His father never visited his office. Even if there was something to discuss, he would always go to his father’s office instead. He stood up to greet him.
When the door opened, Zou Lexiao appeared alongside his father.
Yu Jingze struggled to process the situation. His gaze briefly flickered over Zou Lexiao’s face before settling on his father.
Yu Shaohong acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary and introduced Zou Lexiao to his son. “This is Old Zou’s daughter, Zou Lexiao. She bought toys for Baby—you remember, right?”
Yu Jingze nodded, still unsure of what was going on.
Yu Shaohong continued, “Lexiao is helping her father develop VIP clients and came to find Jingxin to apply for a card. Since Jingxin left work early today, I didn’t want her trip to be in vain, so I brought her here to see you. If you need one, consider applying.”
He turned to Zou Lexiao and said, “Talk with Jingze. I have other matters to attend to. Please send my regards to your father.”
Zou Lexiao expressed her gratitude. “Thank you, Uncle Yu.”
Earlier in the lobby, Yu Shaohong had asked her which floor she was heading to and escorted her directly, saving her the trouble of registering again.
She hadn’t hidden her intentions, telling him she wanted to see Yu Jingze but lacked a good excuse, so she came under the pretense of applying for a card.
To her surprise, Yu Shaohong took her request seriously and even helped save face by saying she was there to see Yu Jingxin.
After Yu Shaohong left, the secretary returned to their own office.
An awkward silence enveloped the room.
Zou Lexiao prided herself on her ability to control situations and ease tensions, but in front of Yu Jingze, all her skills seemed paralyzed—her talents rendered useless.
Yu Jingze invited Zou Lexiao inside and closed the door behind her.
Zou Lexiao struggled to make conversation. “Busy, huh?”
“Mm,” Yu Jingze replied as he sat back down at his computer.
After a moment of hesitation, Zou Lexiao stepped forward and took a seat in the chair in front of his desk.
She pulled out her tablet, which contained the documents her father had sent to her email.
Since Uncle Yu had mentioned applying for a card, she couldn’t just go through the motions. She opened the electronic documents and handed the tablet to him. “Take a look.”
Her gaze lingered on his face for less than two seconds. When he looked up, she quickly averted her eyes and glanced at his computer screen instead.
That night, emboldened by the wine, she had lightly kissed his cheek without permission.
Perhaps that kiss was why he seemed so uncomfortable around her now.
Yu Jingze glanced at the tablet, surprised that she had actually brought the documents.
Without flipping through them, he admitted honestly, “I don’t need it.”
A wave of bitterness welled up in Zou Lexiao’s throat. She hadn’t expected him to reject her so bluntly. If he had even the slightest regard for her, he wouldn’t dismiss her so coldly.
It was just a bank card, after all.
Although there was competition between banks, executives were usually quite courteous to each other in private.
She understood—he wasn’t rejecting the card; he was using this as an excuse to reject her.
She reached out and took the tablet back. “It’s fine. This card might be more suitable for women to apply for.”
Her mind worked quickly, finding a way to save face. “Our bank’s card differs from Yu Bank’s black card in terms of service scope. While some stores overlap, others are unique. For instance, the places Jingxin frequents often offer supreme membership services with our card.”
Zou Lexiao placed the tablet back in her bag and sat silently for another two minutes.
There was a cup of coffee on the desk, with its takeout bag still beside it.
During this time, Yu Jingze continued reviewing reports.
“Do you like coffee from this shop too?” she broke the silence once more.
Yu Jingze glanced at the coffee cup. “Zhou Siyuan bought it.”
Zou Lexiao paused. “Oh.”
She quietly exhaled and avoided looking at the coffee again.
Silence reigned for several seconds.
Zou Lexiao stood up. “You’re busy. I’ll head home.”
Yu Jingze nodded and escorted her to the office door.
Just as she was about to leave, Zou Lexiao turned back. “About that night—I’m sorry. Just pretend I was drunk.”
Yu Jingze: “I don’t remember.”
Zou Lexiao instinctively squeezed her bag, feeling the corner of the tablet beneath her fingers.
The kiss she had obsessed over and felt so anxious about probably meant nothing to him. He simply disliked being treated so presumptuously.
There was nothing more to say. “Goodbye.”
Yu Jingze gave a faint “Mm.”
Maintaining her last shred of pride, Zou Lexiao didn’t look back as she walked stiffly through the secretary’s office area.
Finally, she reached the outside, got into her car, and her vision blurred.
He wouldn’t contact her again. She had been foolishly waiting for his call these past few days.
Zhou Siyuan must have changed her strategy, no longer pestering him to accompany her for late-night snacks. Occasionally visiting him meant he no longer needed to avoid Zhou Siyuan and thus had no reason to use her as an excuse.
Of course, she had gained much.
Ever since he told Zhou Siyuan that she was his girlfriend, SZ no longer bothered her about transferring her shares. She finally had peace.
And she had kissed him.
She considered herself lucky and tried to console herself.
Her phone vibrated.
Snapping back to reality, she saw it was her father calling.
She steadied her breathing and answered. “Hello, Dad.”
“Are you coming home for dinner tonight?”
“Yes, I’ll be back.”
Her father didn’t ask further. “Then Dad will make you a late-night snack.”
“Okay. I’m heading home now.”
After hanging up, Zou Lexiao suddenly felt her nose sting. She sniffed softly.
Previously, she had vowed not to give up until she won Yu Jingze over. But when it came to actually pursuing him, every step felt arduous—it wasn’t as simple as she had imagined.
His cold gaze alone was enough to crush all her enthusiasm and courage.
She picked up her phone again, opened his chat window, and sent him a message for the first time: [Thank you for resolving the SZ equity issue. Otherwise, I’d still be troubled.]
Two minutes passed.
Yu Jingze replied, [You’re welcome. It’s only right. After all, it started because of me.]
Zou Lexiao waited another ten minutes, but he didn’t send any more messages. She stared at his contact name repeatedly before deleting his information entirely.
Her heart tightened painfully.
She tossed her phone aside, started the car, and drove away.
This fake romance had come quickly and ended just as swiftly.
Two somewhat informal dates, one time he had dropped her off at home—and that was it.
Yet she still refused to wake up from the dream.
________________________________________
The next day, Yu Qing went to work as usual.
Qin Moling passed by her office door, which was slightly ajar.
Frowning, he knocked and entered.
“You took a week off—why are you back at work so soon?” He leaned against her desk. “When did you return?”
Yu Qing: “Yesterday morning.” She had rested at home for half a day.
Qin Moling eyed her. “Did Li Yanzhuo manage to catch you?”
“Hmm?” Yu Qing looked up, puzzled.
Qin Moling explained, “That night, he invited me to discuss some details about the star-studded concert. When he saw your social media post with Shanghai tagged, he rushed to the airport without finishing his meal.”
There was only one last flight of the day to Shanghai, and by the time he arrived, it would be early morning. Naturally, he wouldn’t disturb Yu Qing at such a late hour.
Meanwhile, Yu Qing had already flown back to Beijing early the next morning.
They had perfectly missed each other.
Upon hearing this, Yu Qing felt a mix of emotions.
When she returned, her cousin called her, but he didn’t mention that he had rushed to Shanghai overnight. Instead, he told her to rest well and not overexert herself.
Qin Moling knew the relationship between the Li family was complicated. As an outsider, it was difficult to explain in a few words. He changed the subject. “Yesterday, both Leng Wanning and Zhou Siyuan contacted me.”
Leng Wanning wanted to discuss the star-studded concert. Her media company hoped to collaborate on part of it, working alongside Li Yanzhuo’s company. Their resources complemented each other nicely.
As for Zhou Siyuan, she wanted to talk about the SZ equity transfer.
He asked Yu Qing, “Are you handling both of them?”
After a brief pause, Yu Qing responded, “I’ll negotiate with Leng Wanning regarding the collaboration. As for Zhou Siyuan, I don’t have the time—you recruited her, so you deal with her.”
________________________________________
At 2 PM, shortly after her lunch break, Yu Qing had just resumed work when Leng Wanning arrived.
In business, there are no permanent friends or enemies—only eternal interests.
Whether it was her or Leng Wanning, they embodied this principle so vividly, almost nakedly ironic.
They both possessed the nature of shrewd merchants.
This time, Leng Wanning retracted some of her usual sharpness, leaving only a hint of her prickly demeanor.
The secretary brought in coffee and closed the door.
Though Leng Wanning had taken the initiative to discuss matters, she couldn’t bring herself to engage in polite small talk. Seeing Yu Qing’s face naturally reminded her of Yu Jingxin.
It was hard to feel cheerful.
Basic courtesy was still necessary, so she greeted politely and handed over the promotional plan for the concert prepared by her team. “Lawyer Yu, please take a look.”
Yu Qing didn’t speak much. Since she had decided to meet with Leng Wanning, she wasn’t planning to brush her off casually. As Qin Moling had said, Leng Wanning’s resources complemented Li Yanzhuo’s.
She carefully reviewed the document. Even from just the promotional plan, she could tell that Leng Wanning and her team had put in significant effort this time.
The proposal was dozens of pages long, and she couldn’t finish reading it all at once.
Leng Wanning highlighted the key points. “I’ll fully assist Li Yanzhuo’s team with TV station coordination to secure the best interests for Lemongrass. I’ll handle the venue arrangements for the concert. As for the fees, I’ll offer you cost price.”
She emphasized, “Payable afterward.”
Yu Qing raised her eyebrows slightly. With this arrangement, Leng Wanning’s business would barely make a profit—she might even lose money.
Yu Qing understood Leng Wanning’s ultimate goal: to restore her credibility through this collaboration. Even if this deal resulted in a loss, it would help attract other major clients in the future.
Leng Wanning had stumbled with Lemongrass before and now intended to use it as a stepping stone to climb back up.
Moreover, she had signed an investment agreement with Yu Jingxin. If she failed to operate effectively and achieve the required profitability, she risked losing everything.
Now, Leng Wanning had only one path—to focus on running her business well.
This time, Leng Wanning was determined to seize this opportunity. She knew Yu Qing always prioritized interests. “Once the concert concludes and you’re satisfied, you can pay me in one lump sum.”
Yu Qing closed the proposal. “Send me the electronic version and CC it to our other executives. Once it’s approved at next week’s meeting, we’ll contact you.”
Leng Wanning nodded. “Thank you.”
Having covered all the necessary points, they both knew there was little else to discuss. Beyond mutual business interests, Leng Wanning was a thorn in Yu Qing’s side, and Yu Qing was a splinter in hers.
There was no need for false pleasantries. Leng Wanning rose to take her leave.
Yu Qing escorted her to the elevator on her floor. Throughout, they remained silent, neither initiating conversation, yet maintaining basic politeness.
As the elevator arrived, they extended their hands at nearly the same time. “Looking forward to our collaboration.”
At that moment, voices and footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Yu Qing and Leng Wanning turned simultaneously—it was Qin Moling seeing Zhou Siyuan off.
Zhou Siyuan had been avoiding Leng Wanning lately, skipping parties to escape her taunts.
Who would have thought they’d cross paths here?
Zhou Siyuan gave Yu Qing a fleeting glance, still finding her utterly detestable. Yu Qing wore haute couture like everyday clothes, changing outfits daily without repetition. What exactly was she flaunting?
Yu Qing paid no attention to Zhou Siyuan and walked side by side with Qin Moling back to the office.
On the empty corridor, only Leng Wanning and Zhou Siyuan remained.
Leng Wanning seized the opportunity to mock Zhou Siyuan. “President Zhou, long time no see.”
Zhou Siyuan smiled faintly. “Yes, it has been a while. Aren’t you the one who dislikes Yu Qing the most? She’s the sister-in-law of Ji Qingyuan.” She stopped there, implying that despite claiming to despise Yu Qing, here Leng Wanning was, seeking collaboration.
Hmph.
No shame whatsoever.
Leng Wanning smiled sweetly. “Disliking someone doesn’t mean I dislike their money. In business, emotions can’t get in the way.”
She paused briefly before bringing up Yu Jingze. “By the way, I heard your brother is dating Zou Lexiao—they even went on a date at SZ. Is that true?”
Without waiting for Zhou Siyuan to respond, she continued, “Your brother really needs to be educated. How can he choose a girlfriend without considering his sister’s feelings? Whoever you hate, he goes for. I’ve never seen a brother treat his sister this way. The mindset of bankers is truly beyond us ordinary folks.”
Zhou Siyuan: “….”
Her insides felt like they were exploding.
Yet she had no way to retaliate.
This was her weak spot—Leng Wanning hit it perfectly every time.
Leng Wanning wasn’t done. “But your brother is doing it for your sake. If Zou Lexiao becomes your sister-in-law, she’ll definitely transfer SZ’s shares to you. So, has it been settled?”
Zhou Siyuan: “….”
Summoning her last ounce of composure, she feigned disdain. “Let others gossip all they want. Do you really think they’ll succeed?”
Leng Wanning grinned. “I think they will. They seem quite compatible.”
Zhou Siyuan pressed the elevator button and rubbed her chest discreetly.
If she didn’t leave soon, she might suffer a heart attack right there.
She vowed not to endure such humiliation again. That evening, she would visit home once more. She had to secure Zou Lexiao’s SZ shares—otherwise, Leng Wanning would ridicule her for life.
________________________________________
“The conditions Zhou Siyuan offered aren’t bad—they’re quite tempting,” Qin Moling recounted the transfer terms to Yu Qing. Whether to accept them was up to her.
Yu Qing: “No rush. Let’s wait for Jian Hang’s terms. Whichever benefits us more, I’ll lean toward that side.”
She glanced at her watch. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out now.” She had scheduled a prenatal checkup.
After tidying up her documents and grabbing her bag, she left.
Downstairs, Yu Qing received a call from Fu Jichen.
Fu Jichen had originally planned to accompany her to the checkup, but an urgent video conference had come up, preventing him from leaving. “The issues with Xinjian are quite tricky. We need to hold a meeting immediately.”
He rarely broke promises to her. Previously, she had discouraged him from accompanying her, but this time, when he had volunteered, he ended up canceling on her for the first prenatal checkup.
“If I can make it in time, I’ll come pick you up.”
Yu Qing didn’t mind. She felt that having two people go for the checkup was a waste of time. “Don’t bother. You focus on your meeting.”
Before hanging up, she called out, “Boss Fu.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m teasing you.”
Fu Jichen chuckled softly. The video conference was about to start, so he ended the call.
The meeting included several directors and executives from Xinjian, including Jian Hang.
When Jian Hang appeared on the screen, she was wearing a hospital gown, with an IV drip in her hand. The background showed a hospital ward, with several bags of medication hanging from the bedside rack.
Qiao Han asked with concern, “What happened to President Jian?”
Jian Hang smiled faintly. “It’s nothing. I caught a cold after getting soaked in the rain in Jiangnan a few days ago. I thought I could tough it out.” She joked about herself, “Age spares no one.”
Everyone expressed their concern, and over ten minutes passed in small talk.
Fu Jichen simply said, “Take care and rest more.” He didn’t elaborate further.
Glancing at his watch, he signaled for the meeting to begin.
The video conference lasted nearly two and a half hours. The issues weren’t severe, but there were many trivial matters to discuss. By the time all decisions were made, it was nearly 5:30 PM.
Fu Jichen called Yu Qing. She had finished her prenatal checkup and was already out of the hospital.
Yu Qing got into the car. “You don’t need to rush back and forth. Everything’s fine. Little Fish is behaving well.”
Fu Jichen had received a call from his grandmother earlier, asking him to visit the old house when he had time—there was something for him. He told Yu Qing, “Wait for me at home. I’ll stop by Grandpa’s place and return shortly.”
“No rush. Spend more time with your grandparents.”
Before hanging up, Fu Jichen asked, “How many times did Little Fish move today?”
“I didn’t count. But I know Little Fish misses Daddy too.”
The word “Daddy” softened a part of Fu Jichen’s heart.
As soon as he ended the call, Pan Secretary knocked and entered.
Fu Jichen closed his laptop. “Anything else?”
Pan Secretary reported, “I heard Jian Hang is sick and hospitalized. Should we buy flowers and visit her?”
He was part of a work group chat at Xinjian Technology, where Jian Hang was also present.
After learning she was sick, the male colleagues in the group created a separate chat to plan a visit after work.
“She fell ill after getting soaked in the rain in Jiangnan,” he added, fearing his boss might not know. “Weren’t you also pulled into the water by her?”
Pan Secretary: “….”
He had no rebuttal.
Fu Jichen elaborated, “For a common cold, a phone call expressing concern is enough. There’s no need to visit the hospital. Everyone catches a cold. Who doesn’t work while sick? As a boss, she managed to go to the hospital during work hours—what about everyone else? To maintain full attendance, they endure until night.”
Regarding hospitalization and IV drips, he added, “Everyone battling in the capital markets has experienced drinking themselves nearly to death one night and getting an IV the next, then showering and returning to work by dawn. Are they organizing a group visit just for a fever? When did they become so delicate?”
Pan Secretary didn’t respond. Initially, he also thought it unnecessary—it was just a common cold. But since everyone else was planning to go, he sought his boss’s opinion.
Perhaps because Jian Hang was beautiful, people naturally felt compelled to show sympathy.
Beyond that, he couldn’t pinpoint another reason for their insistence on visiting.
Fu Jichen remarked, “When their own wives fall ill, I doubt they’d be this thoughtful, let alone buy flowers to comfort them.”
Pan Secretary: “….”
He felt indirectly criticized.
Fu Jichen glanced at Pan Secretary. “If you want to go, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
Pan Secretary: “….”
He felt wrongfully accused.
“Boss Fu, that’s not what I meant. I also think it’s unnecessary. But they’re planning to visit under the department’s name, so I came to ask for your opinion.”
Fu Jichen: “I’m buying flowers for Yu Qing today. Use the money you’d save from visiting Jian Hang to buy flowers for your wife instead.” He grabbed his keys and phone and left.
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