Water and Fire~Chapter 56.1: Sleep Here Tonight

 

Chapter 56.1: Sleep Here Tonight

Faced with Zhang Teng's question, Chu Qianmiao felt a fleeting ripple of anxiety. Zhang Teng was resigning and moving to a new job, and he could take her with him. What should she do? Then, unexpectedly, a calm settled over her.

Because she wasn't at all lost. She knew exactly what she had to do.

She first asked Zhang Teng, "Lawyer Zhang, if you resign now, the Jialeyuan IPO project will have to apply for a suspension of review and a change of signing attorneys. Then, the Jialeyuan project will have nothing to do with you. So, why don't you wait until Jialeyuan rings the bell before leaving?"

Zhang Teng smiled and said, "After yesterday's incident, it's not appropriate for me to stay at Xinfeng any longer. Besides, I'm only a salaried partner here. Once I arrive at Linfeng, I'll be promoted to equity partner immediately. I'll be able to participate in Linfeng's profits, and I'll have a Jialeyuan IPO project on my resume."

"What about you?" Zhang Teng asked again. "Will you come with me?" After a pause, he said, "I hope you will. You are very capable and have great potential. I will guide you well, and you will be promoted to partner in a few years."

Chu Qianmiao was touched, but she refused Zhang Teng's offer.

"Thank you, Lawyer Zhang. I think I won't go to Linfeng with you."

Although her decision was quick, it was by no means impulsive and thoughtless. On the contrary, it took her only a short time to figure out what she wanted to do in the future and what kind of person she wanted to be.

Although many people told her that the correct workplace perspective was to separate public affairs from private ones, and to focus on work at work and ignore private matters, even if a person's private life was bleak, as long as they did their job well, that was enough.

But she didn't completely agree with this idea. How to handle public and private matters constituted a complete person's personality. How could they be completely separated? If someone couldn't even abide by their marriage contract, how could they uphold any cooperation contract with others?

Zhang Teng had been guiding her since she entered the workplace. It's true that Zhang Teng had always taken good care of her, providing her with careful guidance and instruction, and she was truly grateful for his love and guidance.

But now that she knew he had betrayed her family, she could no longer fully admire and trust him. So, while she still had some respect and gratitude for him, it would be better to distance herself from him and keep some good thoughts in her heart.

So, she told Zhang Teng she wasn't going to switch jobs with him.

Zhang Teng looked at her and sighed.

Then he said, "Since you don't want to work with me, I'll refer you to another law firm."

Chu Qianmiao was truly grateful to him. But she still politely declined Zhang Teng's offer.

It wasn't that she didn't want to accept his offer, but she had already made up her mind: after Jialeyuan's successful IPO, she would find a way to switch to an investment bank.

Zhang Teng continued to persuade her, "Qian Miao, after I leave, if you stay at Xinfeng, it won't be easy. You know what Qiao Zhixin next door is up to. It's not impossible for you to join He Wei, but he has people he's personally training. You won't be trusted or entrusted with important tasks anytime soon. After I'm gone, my position will most likely be taken by Wang Jun. And Wang Jun, needless to say, was brought up by Qiao Zhixin. Working for him is basically the same as working for Qiao Zhixin. So after I leave, if you don't come with me, or if you don't leave for another law firm and stay at Xinfeng, you'll have virtually no options."

At that moment, Chu Qian Miao was filled with gratitude for Zhang Teng. Even though he had betrayed his family, something she despised, he still cared so thoughtfully about her before leaving. She was truly touched.

She said with emotion, "Lawyer Zhang, thank you for your guidance, care, and support. I'm truly, deeply grateful. You'll always be my mentor. But I've decided not to change jobs with you."

Zhang Teng looked at her and sighed, "Okay, I understand your decision." He shook his head and smiled, a smile tinged with resignation and regret. "Qian Miao, you're still too pure. You can't tolerate any injustice." His voice suddenly took on a touch of sadness. "You and Xiao Dong are my two apprentices, whom I personally trained. I treat you like the flesh and blood of my hand. Since you don't want to leave and want to stay at Xinfeng, I respect your choice, but I hope you'll be well."

Finally, he said, "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, remember to come to Master."

As Chu Qianmiao said "Okay," she felt a little choked up.

She found herself on the verge of tears. She held them back.

"Thank you, Lawyer Zhang, thank you, Master," she said with a smile.

Leaving Zhang Teng's office and returning to her seat, she clenched her fists and placed them on her lap. She controlled her emotions. A wave of inexplicable sadness threatened to overwhelm her, and she had to fight it off.

She recalled Zhang Teng's words about her being too pure, a comment he'd made with a tone far from complimentary. But she felt that while she couldn't judge others' lifestyles or their principles, she could control her own. So, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing to remain pure.

Zhang Teng soon resigned, leaving his office vacant for a new partner.

Zhou Shuqi followed Zhang Teng to Linfeng Law Firm.

At first, Zhou Shuqi knew Chu Qianmiao wasn't going to leave, but he refused to leave, crying, making a scene, and even threatening to commit suicide, completely embodying his reputation as a little rascal. In the end, Chu Qianmiao nearly resorted to violence before finally driving him out.

Chu Qianmiao told Zhou Shuqi, "I have my own plans. Don't waste your time with me. Get out of here now. I won't stay at Xinfeng even after Jialeyuan goes public."

Zhou Shuqi finally gave in and went to Linfeng with Zhang Teng.

Almost at the same time, Cheng Xiaodong also resigned. Chu Qianmiao was out on a business trip the day she resigned and didn't see her or say goodbye. Other colleagues said Cheng Xiaodong had apparently gone to the Shanghai or Shenzhen branch of a law firm. They said Cheng Xiaodong's story had spread within the industry, and she couldn't make it in Beijing anymore, so she had to leave.

Chu Qianmiao once again felt how much society mistreats woman. Both involved in an infidelity case, the man had moved to a new law firm and received a promotion, while the woman had been forced to leave in disgrace.

A few people at the nearby workstations were still discussing Cheng Xiaodong's situation. Chu Qianmiao couldn't stand it anymore and stood up, thinking to go out into the corridor for some fresh air.

She felt a tightness in her chest. She didn't know why, but this autumn felt like it was filled with partings—mental, tangible, all kinds of partings.

As she walked out, she passed Qiao Zhixin's office. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him seem to lean back in his swivel chair and stand up.

She didn't look at him, but walked straight out the door and into the corridor. At the end, she turned and walked back inside.

It was a blind spot with a window, a place not often visited.

Chu Qianmiao thought it was a perfect place to breathe, safe from interruptions.

But today, she'd made a mistake.

Qiao Zhixin followed her into the corner like a tail. Chu Qianmiao immediately felt that the air had become stale with the presence of such a prominent figure.

She leaned against the windowsill, gazing into the distance, ignoring him.

Qiao Zhixin, oblivious to her annoyance, warmly swooped over to her, standing beside her by the window. He immediately offered her an olive branch, "Qianmiao, come join my team. I'll personally mentor you."

Chu Qianmiao was stunned. This time, his words were sincere and heartfelt.

"I know, even though I'm a partner, I'm still not your type. But there's nothing I can do. You have a magical charm, and I truly like you."

Chu Qianmiao thought that if Qiao Zhixin had been more respectable, she would have been touched by his words.

But Qiao Zhixin was Qiao Zhixin. As she finished, "Thank you, Qiao Lu. I haven't decided which team to join yet. Please give me some time to think about it," Qiao Zhixin's hand had already taken a more aggressive position on her waist, about to slide down, resting on her alluring curves. Chu Qianmiao immediately turned and slapped his hand away. She tried to slap him, but he dodged.

"Have some respect," Chu Qianmiao said sternly.

Qiao Zhixin paid no heed to her harsh words. He remained aglow with emotion, saying, "Qianmiao, I'm not disrespecting you. I genuinely like you." He raised his hand, intending to touch Chu Qianmiao's face.

Chu Qianmiao immediately leaned back, warning him, "Qiao Zhixin, stop sexually harassing me."

She retreated to the window, the sill pressing against her waist, leaving her no room for retreat.

Qiao Zhixin leaned forward, his breathing quickening. He embraced her forcefully, saying, "Qianmiao, seriously, I can't help myself. I really like you so much." His breath was so rapid it bordered on eroticism, and he wrapped his arms around Chu Qianmiao.

Chu Qianmiao raised her leg and slammed her knee against him, causing him to loosen his grip and double over, breathing heavily as he grasped his p*nis.

Chu Qianmiao turned and ran.

She didn't go back to the law firm. She ran to the property management office.

A few days ago, while bored and strolling around, she discovered a new camera had been installed in a blind spot in the hallway, previously overlooked even by the cleaning lady.

She had just passed Qiao Zhixin's office, and the moment he stood up, she knew he was up to no good.

She figured she'd have to stay at Xinfeng for a while before Jialeyuan went public, so she might as well find a way to put an end to Qiao Zhixin's incessant harassment. She had to find a way to make him behave.

So, she deliberately walked towards this blind spot, swallowing her nausea as Qiao Zhixin patted her waist and embraced her forcefully.

She went to property management to check the surveillance footage.

In the afternoon, she knocked on the door and entered Qiao Zhixin's office.

Qiao Zhixin gritted his teeth when he saw her. It seemed she'd dealt him a heavy blow that morning, and the sight of her was enough to make him grind his teeth.

Chu Qianmiao placed a USB drive on Qiao Zhixin's desk and pushed it towards him, letting him see it.

"Lawyer Qiao, take a look inside. If you make advances towards me again, I'll report this to the Bar Association and sue you for sexual harassment."

Qiao Zhixin inserted the USB drive into his computer and took a look. His face suddenly darkened, as if coated in molten iron.

"Will you win the lawsuit? Judging from the footage, I can also say you attempted to seduce me, your partner, but the terms didn't work out, and you got furious."

Chu Qianmiao smiled. She pulled a recorder from her jacket pocket. "Lawyer Qiao, ever since you groped me in the printing room, I've been carrying this recorder whenever I'm within ten meters of you." She shook the recorder. "So, what happened just now? I've recorded the video and the sound, as well as your attempt to accuse me of seducing you half a minute ago. You're a high-ranking person, and you can't afford to be sued for sexual harassment. Please be careful."

Chu Qianmiao didn't feel proud when she left Qiao Zhixin's office. On the contrary, she felt a bit aggrieved.