Water and Fire~Chapter 28.2: Kindness and Sharpness

 

Chapter 28.2: Kindness and Sharpness

After Ren Yan left, Chu Qianmiao and Qin Qianyu and the others engaged in a discussion.

"Don't you think Mr. Ren can be quite unsympathetic sometimes?"

After all, they hadn't interacted much in school. Back then, she'd mostly observed him from afar, engaging in more mental abuse than engaging in close contact. When they met again years later, he turned out to be even colder than she'd remembered. While he'd maintain a smile and behave politely with project partners, a closer look revealed that he kept everyone at arm's length. Some people appear cold on the outside but warm on the inside, but Ren Yan was the very opposite.

"He's quite aloof," Qin Qianyu said. "Haven't you noticed? Unless there's work that absolutely needs to be discussed, he always refuses any executives who invite him for dinner, tea, or karaoke after get off work. But Mr. Ren is amazing; his reasons for refusing are always polite and don't create any rifts."

Chu Qianmiao thought about it, and it was indeed true.

Sun Yi chimed in, "I remember something too. Old Qin, do you remember a project we worked on? The company's secretary was a beautiful, wealthy woman. From the start, she showed interest in our leader. One time, she wanted to take our leader's car to the Second Ring Road for some work, but our leader, a super straight man, gave the job to you!"

Qin Qianyu sighed. "That's right! He gave me the car keys and told me to give her a ride, and then he took a taxi home. She was so disappointed and upset the whole way, but I couldn't say anything. That ride was so awkward!"

Chu Qianmiao was like she was listening to a mystery. She thought rich people knew how to be willful, giving up their Mercedes-Benz when they were upset and taking a taxi home.

"Then why didn't he want to give her a ride? I'd be so happy to have a handsome guy with me all the way!" Chu Qianmiao said.

Qin Qianyu chuckled. "So, you're absolutely right. President Ren's world lacks the element of human touch. He said he finds it tiring to constantly chat with the beautiful secretary and socialize with her all the way."

Chu Qianmiao: "..."

If talking is tiring, then how come breathing doesn't tire him out...

Then she thought again: If talking is tiring, then why didn't he hesitate to speak when he was with her, constantly asking her rhetorical questions? Was she just born to be criticized?!

Sun Yi slipped in, "Old Qin, following your lead, I've thought about it. It seems our leader has never had a meal with us. Every time we invite him, he always refuses to come. He always says, 'Just have fun,' and I'll put the meal expenses on my account and reimburse you later. Because he's always so generous, we don't feel particularly disappointed when he doesn't come!"

Qin Qianyu slapped his thigh. "That's right!" he said to Chu Qianmiao. "I totally agree with you now. Our CEO Ren really doesn't care about anything. He really doesn't have much of a human touch! Huh?" Qin Qianyu's tone suddenly shifted. "But Qianmiao, come to think of it, you're the one who can most provoke our leader's emotions! We can only make him angry, but you can make him laugh. You're amazing!"

Chu Qianmiao was a bit amused and confused, unsure whether to be proud or not.

A few days later, Ren Yan came to Jialeyuan for a meeting. Zhang Teng was also there, as were representatives from other intermediaries. The meeting focused on solutions to the legal flaws facing the company. Chu Qianmiao, Qin Qianyu, and the other four attended the meeting. From the company side, Dong Lan, the company secretary, the company's securities representative, several senior executives, the head of the legal department, and Sui Huan attended.

After reviewing all the questions, Ren Yan asked Dong Lan, "Ms. Dong, the company is planning to lease a factory building in Area C of the Chengnan Industrial Base, right?"

Chu Qianmiao looked up at Ren Yan. She knew he was referring to the lease contract Sui Huan had signed earlier. The contract stipulated a fifteen-year lease between Jialeyuan and the Chengnan Industrial Base, during which the base would lease a factory building in Area C to Jialeyuan.

Dong Lan nodded. "The contract I assigned the legal department to handle was just signed yesterday with the base, right?" She turned to the head of the legal department and received a positive response.

"Yes, Chairman."

Ren Yan nodded. After a pause, he turned to the Legal Affairs Director and Sui Huan. "This contract has a long lease term and is related to the company's production and operations, making it quite important. So, may I ask, is the property ownership certificate for the industrial base included in the appendix to the lease agreement?"

Chu Qianmiao saw the Legal Affairs Director and Sui Huan's expressions change.

The Legal Affairs Director replied, "They should all be included."

Ren Yan said calmly, "I previously worked on a project involving the industrial base, and as far as I know, the factory there doesn't have a property ownership certificate yet."

The Legal Affairs Director immediately turned to Sui Huan and said, "I accompanied the Chairman to the business negotiations yesterday. You'll be responsible for the rest of the process. Please answer Mr. Ren's questions."

Chu Qianmiao felt like she had just been in the middle of a massive blame game. This kind of thing should have been handled by the Legal Affairs Director, but he had simply pushed Xiao Bing out of the picture.

She felt a little sympathetic towards Sui Huan, who blushed profusely.

Sui Huan blushed, shook her head slightly, and stammered, "It seems not..."

Dong Lan spoke before Ren Yan, her voice rising at the end, like a knife ready to slice the wrongdoer. "It seems, not?"

Chu Qianmiao felt Sui Huan's shoulders tremble. Poor Sui Huan.

"Because... the industrial base is under the jurisdiction of the district government. With the government's endorsement, there won't be any problems..."

Ren Yan shook his head slightly, but remained silent. His shake of the head conveyed his attitude. This was inappropriate.

 Dong Lan immediately asked in a deep voice, "Who told you that? With government endorsement, you don't need a property certificate?"

Sui Huan raised her eyes and looked at Chu Qianmiao.

Chu Qianmiao: "???" She was both bewildered and had a bad feeling...

Sui Huan: "Lawyer Chu told me so..."

Chu Qianmiao saw Dong Lan's gaze flicker to her face, filled with doubt about her professional competence.

She felt Sui Huan's words were a slap in the face, a resounding slap.

All her sympathy for her had been wasted.