Water and Fire~Chapter 25.3: Are You Expecting My Reply?

 

Chapter 25.3: Are You Expecting My Reply?

Chu Qianmiao's thoughts drifted a little uncontrollably. It turned out she had an ex-boyfriend, and Ren Yan had an ex-girlfriend. They were pretty evenly matched when it came to exes—she didn't know how such a ridiculous idiom popped into her head.

She figured he was a fan of non-marriage. Actually, upon closer inspection, it wasn't surprising at all. After all, he usually had such a cool, nonchalant demeanor, which made his persona consistent.

Tan Shen suddenly called out to her, "Hey! Comrade, pay attention! You're distracted while I'm telling you such exciting gossip? Chu Qianmiao, you're going too far!"

Chu Qianmiao quickly apologized.

Tan Shen suddenly jumped up as if stung by a scorpion, his phone bouncing and falling with him. He rushed towards her.

The camera snapped its fingers. "I finally remembered what I was going to talk to you about tonight!"

Chu Qianmiao...

Aren't you just bragging about how even random guys can't resist your charm, you show-off...

"I've decided to return to China soon! I heard there are more and better opportunities in China now, and I've decided to return to the embrace of my motherland and dedicate myself to building a democratic and prosperous country!"

Tan Shen suddenly became artificially affectionate. "Miao, are you happy or surprised to hear that I'll be returning to China after this semester? Think carefully before you answer. If your answer is less than fifteen words, I won't end the video. If your answer is more than fifteen words and you give a good review, I'll give you a red envelope."

Chu Qianmiao...!!!

She seriously suspected that Tan Shen was not studying hard abroad, but was instead reading novels on Jinjiang A all day.

"What a surprise, what a surprise! The motherland is eager for your return, and Beijing needs you to add color!" she said pretentiously.

"Don't just talk about the motherland and Beijing. What about you? Are you eager for me?" Tan Shen stared at the screen, relentless.

Chu Qianmiao asked, "Guess what time it is here?" She turned the camera to show him the window. It was pitch black. Then she checked the time in the bottom right corner of her computer. It was past midnight.

"I'm waiting for you. Let me go to bed!" she snapped.

Tan Shen immediately relented. "Oh, I forgot about the time difference. Okay, I understand your longing. Go to sleep. Good night!"

The video call finally ended.

Chu Qianmiao lay in bed, her thoughts and emotions fragmented. She was trying to process the news about Ren Yan's ex-girlfriend and his non-marriage philosophy.

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a WeChat message from Tan Shen. She clicked on it, and a red envelope popped up on the screen. She thought he was a man of his word.

She opened the envelope and was blinded by the amount.

One hundred and ninety cents.

Damn, does he just watch Jinjiang?!

The next day, Chu Qianmiao told Zhang Teng that she wanted to prepare a gift for Ren Yan as a token of her gratitude. Zhang Teng strongly endorsed her idea.

She asked Zhang Teng if she could give Ren Yan some health supplements. They wouldn't be too expensive, and they would still bring strength and warmth.

Zhang Teng agreed. As for what kind of supplements to give, he told Chu Qianmiao to call Cheng Xiaodong.

"She's very knowledgeable about which health supplements are good and which aren't. There are so many shoddy and deceptive supplements on the market right now. You'd be wise to ask her for advice. Let her help you think of something to prepare for Mr. Ren."

Chu Qianmiao immediately called Cheng Xiaodong to ask what health supplements would be a good gift for a man in his late twenties who was constantly working late. Cheng Xiaodong thought about it and offered her an option. She immediately rushed out to buy them.

Two days later, Zhang Teng took her to Jialeyuan for a meeting. She packed the supplements in a handbag, ready to hand it over to Ren Yan after the meeting.

In the conference room, a month later, she saw Ren Yan again.

A month wasn't a long time, but for some reason, seeing him now gave her a trance-like feeling. It was as if they were in another world.

During the meeting, they had barely any direct communication, rarely even the chance of their eyes meeting.

The Jialeyuan conference room was decorated solemnly, with a mahogany table, large black leather chairs, and the unflinching presence of the Jialeyuan chairman. The meeting was filled with awe and solemnity.

The chairman was a woman named Dong Lan, in her fifties. She possessed a powerful aura and a distinctly unwavering demeanor. She held extremely high standards for everything and was far more difficult to deal with than Zhou Hanhai.

Chu Qianmiao maintained her intense focus throughout the meeting, fearing that even the slightest distraction would be detected by Dong Lan and lead her to believe she was unprofessional or inattentive.

The opportunity for this project today had been given by Ren Yan. She didn't want to embarrass the person who had brought them here. Or, to put it more simply, she didn't want to embarrass Ren Yan.

Fortunately, despite the somewhat serious atmosphere, the meeting went smoothly. After the meeting, Dong Lan finalized her partnership with Zhang Teng.

Leaving the meeting room, Chu Qianmiao said to Zhang Teng, "Lawyer Zhang, go have a cigarette first. I'll take the gift I prepared to President Ren."

Zhang Teng agreed and went out to find a place to smoke.

Chu Qianmiao headed straight for the parking lot. She quickly found Ren Yan's car. She waited beside it, waiting for him.

Soon, Ren Yan approached.

Seeing a girl next to his car, he seemed a little surprised.

He raised the corner of his mouth, a half-smile, and asked the girl in a nonchalant tone, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Chu Qianmiao quickly thrust the paper bag forward. "Thank you, Senior!"

"What are you thanking me for?" He looked at her, not taking the gift from her hand, and asked.

"Just...thank you for guiding me through this project, and thank you for recommending us for this new project!" Chu Qianmiao pushed the bag forward again and again, directly into Ren Yan's hands.

Her hand touched his for a moment. Her fingers were warm, his cool. She thought his body temperature was truly like his person.

Ren Yan looked down at the contents of the bag, pulled it out, and asked, "What is this?"

"Health supplements," Chu Qianmiao said, rubbing her hands and smiling ingratiatingly. "Oyster slices, good for the liver, perfect for those who often stay up late. Highly recommended by our sister Xiaodong!"

Qin Qianyu, shaking the water off his hands, ran over. It seemed he had just gone to the bathroom.

He ran over, saying, "Boss, I'll drive back to the office," and noticed what Ren Yan was holding.

"Hey, oyster slices? Boss, did you buy them? This is a great thing! My wife also bought me some. It protects my liver and boosts my virility!" Turning to see Chu Qianmiao, he quickly said, "Qianmiao, cover your ears! You didn't hear anything!"

But Chu Qianmiao couldn't hear him anymore. When she heard about the miraculous benefits of oyster slices besides liver protection, she was stunned...

She looked up and saw Ren Yan, his eyebrows raised high, staring at her. He was radiating a rhetorical question with his eyes.

—What makes you think I need this?!

...She wanted to rush out and buy a knife and kill Cheng Xiaodong right then and there!