Chapter 24.3: It Smells So Good, So Good
The documents were completed and submitted on schedule, and
the CSRC accepted their application. All that remained was waiting in line for
feedback and the meeting. Zhang Teng told Chu Qianmiao that Ren Yan and the
team had done a solid job on this project, and that the subsequent feedback and
the meeting wouldn't be a major problem.
For Chu Qianmiao, the project was finally over.
She looked up at the rare blue sky of Beijing's autumn sky
and breathed a long, sigh of relief. She felt a sense of closure, a sense of
relief, a sense of surviving a crisis. This feeling was even more liberating
and exhilarating than the moment she emerged from the exam room after finishing
her final exam. Of course, there was also a sense of exhaustion that was too
painful to bear. But when she truly looked back on those exhausting days, she
realized that everyone was truly remarkable during those tiring days.
After the project concluded, she returned to her daily
routine at the law firm.
Before, she'd been constantly forced to work overtime by Ren
Yan, constantly hammered at her by his rhetorical questions, and every day felt
suffocating and stressful. Back then, she'd constantly hoped for the project to
be finished quickly so she could finally be free. But now, suddenly free, she
didn't have to work overtime anymore, and she didn't know why, but she felt a
sense of emptiness.
She and Gu Miaoyu had been so busy lately that they'd
forgotten that the day before the application was her birthday. But even if
she'd forgotten her birthday, she'd still felt a real sense of growth. That was
something no amount of birthday cake could ever replace.
On this project, Zhang Teng, aside from overseeing major
events, had entrusted her with all other responsibilities. She used to just
collect and organize drafts on projects, but now she's responsible for writing
the majority of due diligence reports and legal opinions. Zhang Teng's
leniency, giving her space, and Ren Yan's stern guidance, have made her feel
she's truly improved.
Yes, she's truly improved. Now, when discussing project
issues with colleagues, she's no longer just a listener; she can offer
valuable, practical advice.
She thought back to where her improvement began. She
recalled a time late in the project when she felt like she was on the verge of
collapse, about to give up. But some difficulties are insurmountable, like
stumbling blocks; but by persevering through them, you gain growth.
It turns out that the very difficulties that once hindered
us the most are also the ones that foster our greatest growth.
Chu Qianmiao thought, if she met Ren Yan now, she would
thank him.
It had been a few days since she returned to the law firm,
and Chu Qianmiao had been feeling a sense of emptiness. She'd been so busy, and
suddenly she had some free time, leaving her feeling completely uneasy. She was
hoping a project would fall into Zhang Teng's hands soon, and that he'd just
give her a hand. Staying at the law firm any longer, she felt like she was
going to die from boredom.
One day, Qiao Zhixin saw her sitting at her workstation,
boredly staring at her computer, and came over. He rested his butt on Chu
Qianmiao's desk, leaned forward, and asked with a charming look in his eyes,
"Qianmiao, are you out of projects lately? I have one I'm working on and
need staff for. How about you come help me out?"
Chu Qianmiao leaned back as far as she could, creating as
much distance between them as possible. "Lawyer Qiao, why don't you go ask
Lawyer Zhang? If he says they're not busy lately and want me to come over and
help you, then I'll go."
Qiao Zhixin raised an eyebrow. "Hey, how could I not
know if he has any projects? Lawyer Zhang hasn't had any work lately. Don't
hesitate, come and help me. I'll personally guide you." The last part of
his words lingered, as if there was a sense of understanding between them.
Chu Qianmiao knew Zhang Teng had no projects recently. She
brought Zhang Teng up just to use him as a pretext to push Qiao Zhixin off.
Qiao Zhixin was a partner, and she was a small-timer. It
wouldn't be appropriate for her to push him off on her own.
"Let's ask Lawyer Zhang," Chu Qianmiao picked up
the phone and dialed Zhang Teng's extension number.
As soon as the receiver rang, Qiao Zhixin snatched the
receiver from her hand and put it back.
"That's not necessary. You don't have projects, but I
do. What's wrong with you coming over and helping me? Doesn't Mr. Zhang have to
make you sit around all day when there's no project?"
A greasy male colleague nearby chimed in, "Qian Miao,
that's exactly what you're doing wrong. Look how good Qiao Lu is to you. If
Qiao Lu were so dedicated to asking me to do a project, I'd be so happy."
"Qian Miao, it doesn't matter who you work with, haha.
I'm talking about the project. Qiao Lu won't treat you unfairly."
"Qian Miao, just give in to Qiao Lu."
Qiao Zhixin smiled at her as he listened to their words.
Chu Qian Miao almost wanted to curse. She couldn't
understand why in the 21st-century workplace, men would take advantage of women
like this and still think it was perfectly natural. They still thought it was
nothing, just something for everyone to have fun with, nothing serious.
She spoke up, neither servile nor arrogant.
"If my boyfriend, who's good at Sanda, heard you guys
talking like that, you three would be in big trouble. You'd have to go find out
how much a full set of teeth costs in Beijing these days. You need expensive
ones; cheap ones just look cheap."
The three of them sensed Chu Qianmiao's annoyance. Some
simply fell silent, while others snorted to express their disapproval of her
hypocrisy.
Chu Qianmiao really wanted to pry out the man's front teeth
herself.
Just then, Zhang Teng pushed open the office door and walked
out. "Qianmiao, you just called me, and you hung up as soon as I answered.
It's just right, I have something to tell you."
Chu Qianmiao stood up, as if saved.
Qiao Zhixin also lifted half of Chu Qianmiao's butt from her
desk.
He said to Zhang Teng, "Old Zhang, I was just about to
tell you something. Transfer Xiao Chu to me for a while. You don't have any
projects right now, and I'm desperate for help."
Zhang Teng raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh, Old Qiao,
what a coincidence! I just got a new project! It's an IPO project."
Qiao Zhixin frowned. "Really, Old Zhang, you're so
lucky! IPO projects keep coming one after another."
Zhang Teng ignored him and said to Chu Qianmiao, "Come
to my office. I'll tell you the details."
When Chu Qianmiao entered Zhang Teng's office, Zhang Teng
beamed with joy as he told her, "We've indeed received another IPO
project. It's for a home renovation company called Jialeyuan Decoration. You'll
be busy next week. Go to the company to conduct preliminary due
diligence."
After a pause, he told Chu Qianmiao, "The people on
site are all your old friends."
Chu Qianmiao looked at Zhang Teng in confusion.
Zhang Teng smiled. "This project was initiated by Mr.
Ren. He recommended it directly to the company, saying our lawyers are highly
professional and efficient, and asked them to choose us as the handling
attorneys."
Chu Qianmiao was stunned.
Hadn't he clearly said then...
"Okay, I'll only work with you on this one
project."
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