Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Wen Di hadn’t even finished breakfast when Xiao Donghan messaged her. He had left his glasses case and cleaning cloth at the villa and asked her to deliver them.
Wen Di asked the auntie if she had seen the glasses case.
The auntie said no, “I’ll check the changing room.” Only the changing room hadn’t been cleaned yet.
A dark blue glasses case was on the armrest of the sofa. She picked it up and gave it to Wen Di.
“Dad, I’ll go to the hospital to check on Xiao Donghan. You don’t have to go.” After all, Xiao Donghan was mistakenly injured; it was only right to go and offer condolences.
Wen Changyun had a meeting in the morning. Even if he didn’t, he didn’t want to see Yan Heyu and Guan Xiangmu for now. “Then you go on my behalf.”
“Xiao Donghan isn’t in the same room as Yan Heyu, is he?”
“No, Xiao Donghan has a private room, while Yan Heyu and Guan Xiangmu are in one room together.”
At that time, there were only two private rooms available, so Guan Xiangmu just made do.
After breakfast, Wen Di changed into her outdoor clothes, confirmed which hospital and bed number Xiao Donghan was at, grabbed her car keys, and went downstairs.
Just as she reached the yard, she received another message from Xiao Donghan: [Could you also buy me a razor, by the way?] He sent her the brand and model of his usual razor.
Wen Di: [You didn’t bring a razor on your business trip?]
Xiao Donghan: [I did. I forgot to bring it with me when I went to the hospital in the middle of the night.]
Only later did Wen Di learn that at 2:30 AM, the three of them went to the hospital without bothering their respective assistants or secretaries, only informing Fan Zhisen.
They felt that if Fan Zhisen hadn’t done one last round of toasts, they wouldn’t have been so miserable as to need IV drips, so they blamed Fan Zhisen.
If not him, then who?
Wen Di returned to the villa. It was not yet seven o’clock, and the mall wasn’t open yet. Her family always kept these supplies on hand. Although the model might not match Xiao Donghan’s specified one, it wouldn’t make much difference as long as it worked.
[Just the razor?]
Xiao Donghan: [Mm.]
Wen Di grabbed the razor and shaving cream, then drove to the hospital.
Traffic in Jiangcheng wasn’t heavy. What would take an hour in Beijing only took twenty minutes here.
She found Xiao Donghan’s room. It wasn’t a VIP room, just a regular private room.
Xiao Donghan was leaning against the headboard, resting with his eyes closed, still on an IV drip.
Hearing the door open, he opened his eyes.
“That fast?”
“No traffic at this time.” Wen Di placed her tote bag on the bedside table. Inside were his glasses case, razor, and shaving cream.
His shirt was neat, without a single wrinkle, and his cufflinks were on. His hair was fresh and natural. He didn’t look at all like someone who had drunk too much and needed an IV drip.
There was a faint shadow on his chin, but it wasn’t to the point of absolutely needing a shave.
“What are you looking at?” Xiao Donghan glanced at her.
Wen Di generously said, “Still so concerned about your image even in the hospital?”
Xiao Donghan didn’t respond.
Before coming to the hospital, he had forced himself to take another shower and change into clean clothes, but he forgot to shave.
Wen Di casually said, “I thought you were staying in a VIP room.”
“The VIP rooms are full.” Fan Zhisen had contacted them yesterday and said there were only private rooms. Fan Zhisen was afraid they would find the conditions simple and asked if they wanted to switch hospitals.
Guan Xiangmu couldn’t hold on at the time, feeling terribly uncomfortable, and said, “Change what? I can get a drip even sitting on the stairs.”
There was a knock on the door of the room. Wen Di went to open it. It was a staff member from the florist. She had ordered a bouquet online and had it delivered here.
Xiao Donghan looked at the flowers. “Are these for me?”
Wen Di said, “I sent them on behalf of my second aunt. She was a bit confused with anger yesterday, so please don’t take it to heart, CEO Xiao.”
She placed the flowers by his bedside. There were a few lilies in the bouquet, and their fragrance diffused, masking the smell of disinfectant. The faint scent of alcohol on him was also gone.
Xiao Donghan didn’t like the smell of flowers, but he still let her put them nearby.
Wen Di looked up at the IV bag. There was about half a bag left.
She politely asked, “Do you need another drip tomorrow?”
“No.”
Wen Di nodded. She had nothing more to say to him. “CEO Xiao, please rest. I’m going to the company.”
Xiao Donghan, however, said, “If you’re not in a rush, could you help me buy some congee?”
“I have time to buy congee.”
Wen Di gently closed the hospital room door. She had only taken two steps when someone called out from behind her, “Wen Di.”
She turned around. It was Yan Heyu.
Like Xiao Donghan, he was meticulously groomed, from his hairstyle to his clothes. Each of them, despite being in such pain, didn’t forget their image.
Yan Heyu approached. “Did you come to see us?”
Actually, he knew perfectly well that she only came to see Xiao Donghan. His and Guan Xiangmu’s room was further inside, and she was heading towards the elevator after leaving Xiao Donghan’s room, showing no intention of going further in.
He had now reached this level of self-deception.
Wen Di calmly said, “How is CEO Guan?”
“He’s alright.” Yan Heyu looked at her. “Aren’t you going to care about me?”
She said, “Aren’t you standing right here?”
Meaning, she couldn’t see anything wrong with him.
Yan Heyu didn’t want to argue with her outside Xiao Donghan’s hospital room, lest Xiao Donghan get another laugh at his expense.
“My stomach’s still uncomfortable. Could you help me buy some congee?” He explained, “Assistant Kang is still at the hotel.”
Wen Di paused for a moment and asked, “What kind of congee would CEO Yan like?”
Yan Heyu stammered, “You know.”
A nurse walked past them. She didn’t want to engage in a war of words with him and turned to go downstairs.
Yan Heyu returned to his room. Guan Xiangmu was putting on his suit; the nurse had just removed his IV.
He saw Yan Heyu return. “Didn’t you go buy congee?”
“Wen Di went to buy it for me.”
“She’s buying it for Xiao Donghan and just picking some up for us too?”
“...Guan Xiangmu,” Yan Heyu called him by his full name, “say less.”
Guan Xiangmu smiled; he too had experienced such self-deception in his youth.
“The room’s too small, let’s go out and get some fresh air.” He picked up a glass with hot water in it. Now he understood why Yan Heyu kept asking for hot water.
The two went to the window at the end of the corridor.
Guan Xiangmu said sincerely, “I dragged you into this yesterday.”
“It’s nothing about dragging anyone into anything.” Yan Heyu looked down from the window, trying to find Wen Di, but the floor was a bit high, making it hard to see clearly.
Guan Xiangmu suggested to him, “Or you could get another injection tomorrow.”
“No need.” His stomach wouldn’t get better with just injections.
He turned his face and asked Guan Xiangmu, “Do you still want to continue investing in Jiangcheng?”
Guan Xiangmu countered, “Why wouldn’t I?”
“I’m afraid you’ll back out.”
“If I back out any further, I’ll be fifty, and Qizhen probably won’t even look at me then.”
Yan Heyu’s phone vibrated; it was Kang Bo looking for him.
Assistant Kang knocked on his boss’s room door, but no one answered no matter how much he knocked. Worried that his boss’s stomach was uncomfortable, he had to call him.
“Mr. Yan, how are you now?”
“In the hospital.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“It’s fine. Everyone’s here.”
Yan Heyu vaguely remembered having arranged something with Kang Bo in the car yesterday. “Are you here to talk about the North China market?”
“You still remember?”
“Come over.” Yan Heyu told Kang Bo the address and hung up.
Ten minutes later, Wen Di carried three packed portions of congee and side dishes.
She gave one portion to Xiao Donghan first, then delivered the remaining two to Yan Heyu’s room.
Guan Xiangmu clearly felt that Wen Di had become much more distant from him, even her politeness was perfunctory. He had completely become just a guest visiting her home.
Any rapport they had built from his investment in her script had completely vanished.
At this point, he didn’t mind being a bit shameless and asked, “How’s your second aunt doing?” Qizhen had three drinks last night.
Wen Di first thanked him for his concern, then said, “Auntie is doing well. She went to the company early this morning and said she has a parent-teacher conference at school at ten.”
Guan Xiangmu paused while opening his congee box. A parent-teacher conference, naturally, was for the children. “A parent-teacher conference on a Saturday?”
“Mm.” Wen Di said, “My two younger cousins’ monthly exam results came out yesterday.”
Guan Xiangmu remembered how old those two children were. “They’re in their final year of high school this year?”
“Yes.”
“Their grades must be pretty good, Qizhen is smart.”
“They’re okay. One is first in their grade, the other is second.”
“...”
Guan Xiangmu scooped a spoonful of congee into his mouth. “It tastes good.” Then he casually added, “The children’s custody seems to be with their father.”
Wen Di elaborated, “Joint custody. They just weren’t compatible personality-wise. After the divorce, they’ve actually been able to get along peacefully. Both of them love their children very much.”
Guan Xiangmu nodded. The side dish in his mouth, like the plain congee, was tasteless.
Wen Di didn’t linger long and excused herself.
Yan Heyu got up. “I’ll see you out.”
“Stay here.” She closed the door and left quickly.
Yan Heyu looked at the door and eventually gave up, sitting down to drink his congee.
Guan Xiangmu said, “Wen Di didn’t send me congee out of kindness; she came to wound my heart.” Wen Qizhen harmed their bodies, and Wen Di directly aimed for their hearts.
“I didn’t even ask her what Qizhen was doing this morning, but she just had to bring up the parent-teacher conference.”
Yan Heyu defended her, “Wen Di only mentioned it once. You were the one asking incessantly, almost asking about their children’s elementary characters. If she didn’t want to bring it up, you shouldn’t have asked.”
Guan Xiangmu: “I’m just a glutton for punishment, then.”
He couldn’t help but want to know more.
“Her two sons are twins.”
Yan Heyu: “I know.”
Wen Di used to tell him that even though her two younger cousins were twins, they only looked somewhat alike. One resembled their mother more, and the other resembled their father more.
Both children had good personalities, probably because their parents’ divorce was amicable, and they were co-parented, so they didn’t receive any less attention.
According to Wen Di, her second aunt and ex-uncle-in-law would usually both attend the children’s school events, unless they were away on business and truly couldn’t make it.
Guan Xiangmu put down his spoon and chuckled self-deprecatingly, “Do you know what I was doing the night Qizhen gave birth?”
He answered his own question: “I was praying for the safety of her and her child. She was carrying twins and had a premature birth, so there was still a risk.” He unconsciously repeated, “She was having someone else’s children, and I was praying for her and the children’s safety.”
“If I hadn’t made that mistake back then, my child with Qizhen would be this old by now.”
Guan Xiangmu looked at Yan Heyu, “So, don’t be like me. Regretting it bitterly is useless. If Wen Di has Xiao Donghan’s child...”
Yan Heyu interrupted him: “Wen Di and I will definitely have our children.”
He handed his water cup to Guan Xiangmu, “If you’re really bored, help me get a glass of water from the pantry, thanks.”
________________________________________
Wen Di left the hospital and went directly to Yunhui Group.
Downstairs at Yunhui, she saw her father’s car pulling out of the underground garage.
When their cars met, the driver stopped, and she also braked.
“Dad, are you going out? Didn’t you say you had a meeting?”
Wen Changyun sighed, “Don’t even mention it. Secretary Liang also found out about the three of them going to the hospital together in the middle of the night.”
Secretary Liang was a bit shocked by the group trip to the hospital and felt very apologetic. After all, they had just signed the contract and then got people drunk enough to send them to the hospital, taking out everyone without missing a single one. It looked like they intentionally messed with them.
Secretary Liang asked him what was going on, and he couldn’t tell the truth, so he downplayed it, saying his sister and CEO Guan were university alumni, and once they got familiar, they couldn’t stop drinking.
Director Zhao was also there, and he had a good alcohol tolerance, so he kept drinking and drinking.
Secretary Liang was convinced and asked him to visit them at the hospital on his behalf and prepare some breakfast.
Entrusted with a duty, he postponed his meeting to go see them at the hospital first.
Wen Di said, “No need to prepare breakfast. I bought them congee. Flowers, congee, everything’s been sent. Even if someone from the investment promotion office goes later, they won’t be able to say our family neglected them. Don’t worry.”
“You only bought flowers for Xiao Donghan?”
“Initially I only bought one bouquet, but then I felt it was inappropriate, so I had the florist send another bouquet to the next room, sent in your name.”
Everything he should have done, his daughter had done for him.
Wen Changyun said, “This time it was bad timing; they came to sign a contract, so we had to show them respect. Next time, I’ll deal with them properly.”
Wen Di advised, “Dad, to deal with them, you should be like Grandpa: calm and collected, and stop engaging with them. That’s more effective than getting them drunk ten times over.”
He was previously clouded by concern and fainted from anger. “Dad’s got it.”
Wen Changyun went to the hospital, and Wen Di went upstairs to find her father’s secretary. It was the same to ask the secretary some questions.
She held a significant number of shares in Yunhui Group, which made it convenient for her to audit meetings.
She went up and attended two meetings, organizing her thoughts as she went.
Towards noon, she went to the industrial park to find her second aunt.
Her second aunt had just returned from a parent-teacher conference at school. Their cars drove into the parking lot one after the other.
Wen Di got out of the car, smiling, “What a coincidence.”
“Indeed.” Wen Qizhen locked her car and handed her niece a piece of chocolate, eating one herself.
Wen Di put the chocolate in her bag and asked, “Where did this come from?” After all, her aunt wouldn’t specially buy chocolate.
The chocolate was something Wen Qizhen had taken from her youngest son’s drawer. “It’s a snack my younger cousin bought for his girlfriend. But this piece is one he asked me to bring for you.”
Her younger son said: “Give my sister a piece. Didn’t she break up? Eating something sweet will make her feel better.”
Wen Di was surprised, “When did he get a girlfriend? He didn’t tell me.”
“During the summer. When he and his girlfriend confirmed their relationship, you and Qi Mingche just announced your breakup. How do you expect him to tell you?”
“...”
Wen Qizhen sighed.
Wen Di asked her what was wrong.
Wen Qizhen said, “Your older cousin likes a girl and hasn’t confessed yet.” She saw the girl today, and she was very pretty.
“He takes after his dad, a complete straight man. He didn’t inherit an ounce of my emotional intelligence.”
Wen Di noticed that only when talking about her two sons could her second aunt temporarily put all her worries aside.
“Enough about them, let’s go eat.”
Wen Di linked arms with her second aunt and walked towards the cafeteria.
The topic of Yan Heyu and Guan Xiangmu was unavoidable.
Wen Qizhen asked, “How are they? Will it affect the afternoon meeting?”
“It shouldn’t.” Wen Di briefly described her morning visit to the hospital.
Wen Qizhen’s expression was solemn. “Yan Heyu went all out this time.” He wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
Wen Di didn’t understand, waiting for her second aunt to explain.
Wen Qizhen looked at her niece, “Guess where this year’s GR. Financial Technology Summit will be held?”
Since her second aunt put it that way, Wen Di didn’t even have to think, “Jiangcheng.”
When she said it, she herself found it unbelievable.
Previous GR summits were hosted by first-tier cities and several very powerful major cities. Clearly, Jiangcheng simply wouldn’t get such an opportunity.
In recent years, Jiangcheng’s investment environment and policies have been quite good, but it lacked a platform for display and promotion.
Wen Qizhen: “I heard from Director Zhao that this summit will gather financial bigwigs. Who do you think managed to invite them?”
Yan Heyu not only brought Jingyue Group to establish itself in the Jiangcheng industrial park but also brought the GR Summit.
She had only just found this out this morning.
Director Zhao called her after sobering up, saying that next time, they should take it easy and not offend the God of Wealth.
Wen Di rarely paid attention to news in that area. “When does the forum open?”
Wen Qizhen wasn’t too sure, only hearing Director Zhao mention it briefly, “It seems to be next Thursday, for two days in total.”
Wen Di checked her phone. It was indeed next Thursday.
Her phone happened to receive a message from Xiao Donghan: [Are you free between 6 and 8 PM tonight? Secretary Lu has already compiled your twelve questions.]
Wen Di: [Then please send it to me. Thank Secretary Lu for me.]
Xiao Donghan: [I only have a hard copy. Come and get it. If you have any doubts, ask on the spot. My schedule is very full next, so I won’t have time to answer your questions.]
Wen Di casually asked: [Leaving Jiangcheng tomorrow?]
Xiao Donghan: [Next week, after the financial summit.]
After replying to the message, Xiao Donghan tossed his phone aside. After returning from the hospital, he had been busy dealing with work, almost without sleep all night, his head aching, but with no time for a nap.
He was looking at the reports. Last quarter, the revenue growth in the North China region was much higher than in other regions.
Secretary Lu said, “We’ve seized Yan Heyu’s market. He’s definitely going to counterattack now.”
Xiao Donghan focused for a moment. “Notify for a video conference tomorrow, to adjust our strategy.” He guessed how Yan Heyu would respond to him, and similarly, Yan Heyu probably knew how he would adjust.
After knowing oneself and the enemy, the competition would enter a fever pitch.
Meanwhile, in another suite at the hotel.
Yan Heyu had just slept for half an hour. He splashed cold water on his face and sat down at his desk to continue working.
Kang Bo gave a detailed report on the situation in the North China region that his boss was concerned about, and he had sent all analysis reports to his boss.
Yan Heyu stared at the analysis report, pondering, “Call Jiang Yunxing and tell her that the company Xiaoning Group is currently competing with is actually controlled by me. Let her think carefully whether the Jiang family wants to continue cooperating with Xiao Donghan.”
“Okay, I’ll call right away.”
Kang Bo, in front of his boss, found Jiang Yunxing’s number and dialed it. He put it on speaker so his boss could hear what Jiang Yunxing intended to do.
The phone rang until almost the end, then she finally answered. The sound was very noisy.
“Hello, Assistant Kang. I’m at the high-speed rail station. It’s a bit noisy around here. Please wait.”
“No rush.”
In less than a minute, the other end suddenly became quiet, followed by the sound of a car door closing.
Jiang Yunxing said, “What is it, Assistant Kang? Tell me.”
Kang Bo didn’t beat around the bush: “Your family’s collaboration with Xiaoning Group has affected Mr. Yan’s interests.”
Jiang Yunxing paused. Her family’s cooperation with Xiao Donghan wasn’t a project, but a private exchange of resources. She hadn’t expected Yan Heyu to find out so quickly.
She was confused, “Even if I cooperate with Xiao Donghan, how does that affect him?” It shouldn’t, there were no conflicts of interest at all.
Kang Bo said, “The company competing with Xiao Donghan, its real boss is Mr. Yan.” Xiao Donghan had stolen his boss’s market, and the Jiang family inadvertently helped.
Jiang Yunxing paused, “Okay, I understand.”
She hung up the phone without stating her position.
________________________________________
At 5:30 PM, Secretary Lu knocked on Xiao Donghan’s door.
Jiang Yunxing had called him earlier, asking to arrange a time to meet with CEO Xiao.
“CEO Xiao, are you seeing her?”
Xiao Donghan was looking at documents, not even raising his head. “How? I’m not going to Beijing temporarily.”
Secretary Lu had forgotten to mention, “Miss Jiang is in Jiangcheng. She just arrived this afternoon. She got an invitation to attend the financial forum, and the park also invited her to visit and inspect. She came a few days early.”
The park uniformly arranged accommodation, and she was also staying at this hotel.
Jiang Yunxing learned he was still in Jiangcheng and asked to meet him, saying they could discuss cooperation matters in person.
Xiao Donghan glanced at his watch: “Tell her to be at the coffee shop on the second floor opposite the hotel in ten minutes.”
Though they didn’t explicitly state it, they both tacitly knew the reason for this meeting: Yan Heyu had found out about their private collaboration.
Xiao Donghan ordered two cups of coffee. He disliked dragging things out, no matter what he did. “You need to think clearly whether you want to continue cooperating with me.”
He didn’t like forcing people.
Jiang Yunxing said, “Continue the cooperation.”
Xiao Donghan reminded, “Consider it carefully.”
She said, “I’ve thought it through very clearly.”
Her attitude was firm, not based on impulse.
With the cooperation confirmed, that topic was concluded.
After finishing a cup of coffee, they had discussed most of what needed to be said. Xiao Donghan said, “I have another appointment at six o’clock.”
“Then I won’t disturb you. I’ll go enjoy the night view of Jiangcheng.” Jiang Yunxing stood up, picked up her bag, and left.
Xiao Donghan stood up and went upstairs. He had arranged to meet Wen Di at the restaurant upstairs.
He didn’t like waiting. It was almost six o’clock, and she hadn’t made any movement.
He messaged Wen Di: [Where are you?]
Wen Di was in the lobby downstairs, about to take the elevator, when she unexpectedly saw Yan Heyu and Jiang Yunxing. She immediately turned around and went to the lounge area to wait until they left before going upstairs.
Jiang Yunxing and Yan Heyu took different elevators down. The two elevators arrived at the first floor around the same time. Upon seeing each other, both were surprised.
Jiang Yunxing smiled and greeted him, “What a coincidence.”
Yan Heyu nodded, “Eating here?”
“No, just had coffee.”
Both walked towards the exit, one after the other.
Yan Heyu suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure, who had their back to him and was walking hurriedly.
“Wen Di.” He quickly pursued her, grabbed her arm, pulled her into his embrace, and held her tightly, “Why are you leaving?” He stroked her back, “Don’t be angry.”
Wen Di sharply said, “Let go! I’m sending a message, you’ve messed it all up!”
Yan Heyu let go of her. Wen Di pushed him forcefully, and he stumbled back half a step.
Wen Di hurriedly looked at the chat box. Just now, Xiao Donghan asked her, Where are you?
She originally wanted to reply: I’m downstairs.
But she had only typed “I’m at” when Yan Heyu pulled her into his arms before she could type the rest. She didn’t hold her phone steadily, and her fingers pressed randomly, she didn’t even know what characters she had typed.
The result was, she replied to Xiao Donghan: [I’m thinking of you...]
Yan Heyu also saw those words, and then realized it was Xiao Donghan’s chat box. He said to Wen Di, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were sending a message.”
He snatched her phone from her hand and quickly tried to recall the message.
Just then, Xiao Donghan replied: [No need to recall. I saw it.]
Google Sites
Report abuse