Water and Fire~Chapter 54.2: Project Completed

 

Chapter 54.2: Project Completed

After experiencing the ups and downs of love, Chu Qianmiao suddenly came to terms with the relationship between men and women. Although Gu Miaoyu insisted that she was simply overwhelmed by her past experiences, she felt that Gu Miaoyu was no better than she was, so how could she have the nerve to judge her like that? After Shao Yuan left, she stopped petting even male cats, and before petting a cat, she would even check its belly to see if it was neutered.

Now, she and Gu Miaoyu had both set a lofty goal: to focus solely on their careers for the next five years, leaving men to fend for themselves. They wanted to seize the opportunity to build a bright future while they were still young.

"When I become a rich woman, I won't have to worry about not having a good young man"—this was their new motto.

Chu Qianmiao felt she had adjusted well. She was no longer like before, when Ren Yan wasn't around, she always felt uneasy, as if he would suddenly appear.

Now, she didn't miss him, and when he came, he came. If she had work problems, she would discuss them with him; if not, she would just pretend he hadn't come.

Qin Qianyu seemed to notice this subtle change in their relationship.

One day, while Ren Yan was away, he said to Chu Qianmiao, "Qianmiao, I've noticed you don't seem to call my leader 'senior' anymore."

He also said, "Qianmiao, why do I feel like you've become so much more polite when speaking to my leader?"

He concluded, "Qianmiao, I think you and our leader, while not necessarily distant, have become more polite. Just a quick question, has anything unfriendly happened between you?"

Chu Qianmiao unhesitatingly shifted the blame, making an ambiguous statement, "Brother Qin, you know your leader's personality, right?"

Qin Qianyu let this sentence drift, his imagination flowing freely, "It's President Ren who forbids you from calling him 'senior' during work hours, isn't it? This guy, truly... As a subordinate, I admire him, but as a person, I think he's destined to be alone."

Chu Qianmiao wondered how Qin Qianyu could be so accurate in his assessment.

She and Ren Yan continued to interact politely, becoming increasingly comfortable with their relationship, but Ren Yan's tempers seemed to be growing more frequent.

Qin Qianyu said, "This was actually my boss's usual behavior. For a while, he was so affable we all thought he'd somehow changed. But now it seems he hasn't. He's still the same person."

At work, Ren Yan still gave her advice and persisted in criticizing human nature. Maintaining a clear work ethic meant being rational, calm, even aloof. In life, however, they no longer interacted at all.

After the coaching and acceptance, while preparing application materials, Tan Shen invited Chu Qianmiao out for dinner.

Chu Qianmiao initially didn't want to go, but felt that some things were better left unsaid. So, she went.

Tan Shen was dressed handsomely and flamboyantly, his hair styled as if he were rushing off to film an idol drama.

But before he could speak with any affection, Chu Qianmiao spoke with reason.

She said, "Tan Shen, we broke up a long time ago. From your behavior, it seems like you've fallen for me again, but I'm sure you'll get over it soon. Also, I've fallen for someone else, and my confession to him failed. I'm hurt, and I won't be dating for a while. I'll just focus on my career. Oh, maybe five years."

After she finished speaking, Tan Shen looked at her, silent for a long time.

Then he asked if that person was Ren Yan.

Chu Qianmiao thought, "Huh, how embarrassing! It seems like everyone in the world can see that she likes Ren Yan."

She nodded confidently.

Tan Shen said nothing, just stood up and left, not even eating.

Chu Qianmiao, on the other hand, quietly enjoyed a hot pot meal alone.

For a while, Tan Shen didn't contact her again. From his WeChat Moments, Chu Qianmiao saw that he often hung out with a group of handsome men and beautiful women. A sweet-looking girl appeared in his photos more frequently than anyone else.

Chu Qianmiao breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone had their own pursuits and destiny. She wanted a successful career, Ren Yan clung to his unmarried life, and Tan Shen wanted to indulge himself. She thought this was fine.

Jia Leyuan's project had finally reached the final stage, with Rongda preparing its IPO materials.

The scenes from Hanhai Home Textiles' pre-IPO filing were repeated. In the same cramped, airless office, all the intermediary agencies and company representatives huddled together, exhausting every last ounce of energy to finalize Jia Leyuan's IPO filing.

One page of the legal opinion had been revised and needed to be retyped. Chu Qianmiao took the order and ran downstairs to talk to the printer about it. Afterward, she hurried back upstairs to the office.

In the hallway, she unexpectedly saw Tan Shen. She had heard from the printer earlier that Eagle Capital was also preparing materials there. But she hadn't expected the person from Eagle Capital to be Tan Shen.

He was standing in the hallway with a beautiful woman, blocking her path. The pretty girl peeled an orange and was feeding the slices into Tan Shen's mouth.

Chu Qianmiao decided to turn around and go the other way. But Tan Shen saw her.

He called to her from behind and ran after her.

"Qianmiao!"

He ran in front of her, blocking her way.

Chu Qianmiao looked up at Tan Shen and smiled. "You're running over like that, pretty girl, you'll have to think twice. Come on, move aside. Don't block me. I'm in a hurry to deliver the materials."

Tan Shen refused to move. Wherever she went, he blocked her way.

While blocking her, he asked with a smile, "Were you jealous just now?" He stopped her, stared into her eyes, and said, "Qianmiao, if you tell me you're jealous, I'll immediately break up with her, and I'll immediately break up with all girls."

Chu Qianmiao stopped, looked up, and told Tan Shen, "Ah Shen, I'm really not jealous. Besides, what you said just now was unfair to that girl. You're such a jerk."

She tried to walk around Tan Shen and back to the office.

But Tan Shen blocked her way and stopped her.

A figure peeked out from the office door at the end of the corridor. Then a cold voice rang out.

"Chu Qianmiao, does it take a year to print a document? Everyone's waiting for you. What are you doing?"

Chu Qianmiao suddenly felt ashamed as if she'd been caught slacking off. Although she hadn't been slacking off; Tan Shen had forced her to do so.

Tan Shen looked up at the end of the corridor and sneered, about to charge forward. "Who the hell does he think he is? He's saying that to you."

Chu Qianmiao stopped him. "Tan Shen, you're done." She patted his chest and sighed. "Ah Shen, are you all right?"

Back in the office, Ren Yan's face was as grim as frost.

He said to her coldly, "Everyone's waiting for your printed information."

Chu Qianmiao apologized quickly, "I'm sorry I was delayed. I won't do it again."

After several days of hard work, Jia Leyuan's application materials were finally completed at Rongda.

The materials were submitted and successfully accepted. Jia Leyuan's project could now come to an end.

After the application was completed, Dong Lan said, "I'll treat everyone to a meal to thank everyone for their hard work."

Zhang Teng had something to do and left halfway through the meal. Before leaving, he asked Ren Yan to take care of Chu Qianmiao and not let her drink too much. Ren Yan agreed.

Chu Qianmiao represented the lawyers throughout the entire meal.

During the meal, Ren Yan asked Qin Qianyu to move Chu Qianmiao to his side. Whenever someone offered her a toast, Ren Yan deflected them.

When they were almost done, Ren Yan turned around, picked up a glass from the table, and with a smile on his face, asked, "Let's have a drink too."

The fine Maotai liquor imbued his voice with a magnetic quality.

A sense of déjà vu washed over her. Chu Qianmiao quickly cut off the allure. What had been agreed to be turned over, was turned over.

She said "OK," raised her glass, and said to Ren Yan, "To Mr. Ren."

The smile on Ren Yan's face faded. He held the glass high and said, "I was mean to you again when we were working on the materials at Rong University. I apologize."

Chu Qianmiao smiled carelessly, "It's okay, Mr. Ren. It's not a big deal. It's my fault for saying anything." It really wasn't a big deal. As long as I don't harbor any other feelings for you, I won't feel wronged even if you're a bit harsh. Only when someone loves someone can they resist their scolding and feel deeply wronged. Now she's put away all her tenderness, leaving only the steel she's forged through countless trials, incredibly resilient.

Ren Yan looked at her for a moment, then tilted his head back and finished his drink.

But he pushed the glass from Chu Qianmiao's hand.

"Just the gesture is enough; you don't have to actually drink it."

Chu Qianmiao thought about it, then drank it anyway. Starting tomorrow, we'll all go our separate ways. Let's just consider this a farewell drink.

And since she drank, she wouldn't have to be anyone's designated driver.

After the banquet, Ren Yan called for a designated driver. While waiting for his designated driver, he leaned against the car and said to Chu Qianmiao, "Lawyer Zhang asked me to take you home."

Chu Qianmiao smiled brightly, "Thank you, Mr. Ren. No need to bother. I've called a car. I'll just walk away when it arrives."

Ren Yan was silent for a moment, then looked at her and said, "Qianmiao, you're doing great now." He seemed a little drunk; he didn't usually speak like that.

Chu Qianmiao smiled and replied, "Thank you, Mr. Ren, for your guidance and advice."

Ren Yan's eyes were tinged with drunkenness. He leaned against the car and asked, "How are you doing lately? You've definitely lost a lot of weight."

Chu Qianmiao smiled and nodded, "I'm fine. Don't worry, Mr. Ren."

The car she had ordered arrived and stopped at the curb.

She smiled at Ren Yan, saying, "I really dropped you off. Don't worry."

She took two steps toward the car, paused, and turned to Ren Yan, saying, "Mr. Ren, be careful on your way. Goodbye."

This project is done. We can finally see each other again.

She turned and walked towards the car she had called, not looking back. She wore a smile, a smile no one could see, yet she wanted to be completely elegant on her own.

Ren Yan stood in the moonlight, leaning against the car, watching her get in, watching her drive away.

He looked up at the moon, just as bright as the night he rejected her. Its light illuminated everything that was on his mind.

Starting tomorrow, he really wouldn't see her anymore.

Chu Qianmiao had just arrived home when Zhou Shuqi called.

Zhou Shuqi hesitantly said, "Senior, I have something on my mind, and I'm not sure if I should tell you. Sigh, should I tell you or not? I'm so scared, but I also feel uncomfortable if I don't. Sigh."

Chu Qianmiao wanted to strangle him.

"What the hell is going on?"