Water and Fire~Chapter 63.1: Business Trip Next Monday

Chapter 63.1: Business Trip Next Monday

After returning to the office, Ren Yan called Qin Qianyu's landline.

Qin Qianyu looked at the caller ID, realizing who the caller was, and felt a bit puzzled. They had just met in the tea room, and now they were communicating via phone. Qin Qianyu couldn't help but have the misconception that Ren Yan might be willing to give him the leather notebook soon.

He called out, "Mr. Ren," and listened intently to his leader's instructions.

Ren Yan's voice on the receiver was unhurried, as if he were casually announcing something that was neither important nor unimportant.

"You can have a welcome dinner tonight to welcome the new members. Any location is up to you. Just issue an invoice and I'll reimburse you."

Qin Qianyu said "Okay," hung up the phone, turned around, and called out "Qian Miao." Having caught Chu Qianmiao's attention, he let out an exaggerated, slow laugh, a laugh identical to Flash, the sloth from Zootopia.

"Ha, ha, ha, Qianmiao, President Ren said we can throw you a welcome party tonight. All you can eat and drink, and he'll cover the expenses."

Chu Qianmiao was a little flattered. Holding her face in her hands, she asked, "Is President Ren being too nice to me? Did he notice my beauty?"

Some things, rather than letting others speculate and gossip about them, are better to joke about them yourself. That way, there's less to gossip about.

Qin Qianyu laughed out loud. "Qianmiao, are you flattering yourself? Don't think I can't hear you're praising your looks, but our President Ren isn't one to judge by appearances."

Before Chu Qianmiao could respond, Liu Lifeng's cold, mocking voice echoed from behind her. "Hey, these days, the problem is not eating too much, but thinking too much. Every new member gets this treatment. What's there to be complacent about?"

Chu Qianmiao felt relieved after hearing this taunt.

She looked delighted. Qin Qianyu was surprised she was so happy after Liu Lifeng's ridicule, and whispered, "You're Stockholm?"

Chu Qianmiao smiled silently, not telling him that she had just used Liu Lifeng's words to dispel the notion that she was receiving special treatment from Ren Yan.

The leather notebook and the welcome party.

Qin Qianyu began to count the number of people attending the evening party.

Liu Lifeng was the first to rush out, "I won't go." He was adamant, "I won't go to any of her gatherings in the future."

This outspoken opposition was so stark that it startled Chu Qianmiao. After her recent experiences with fake workplace figures like Wang Jun and He Wei, she felt Liu Lifeng was so genuine that it brought tears to her eyes.

Qin Qianyu advised Liu Lifeng, "Don't worry. Qianmiao didn't dig up your grave in your past life. Why bother, Old Liu?"

Liu Lifeng said coldly, "But she poached my classmate's job."

Qin Qianyu defended Chu Qianmiao, "Didn't your classmate fail to answer the question himself?"

Liu Lifeng said, "That doesn't stop me from still believing she poached my classmate's job."

Chu Qianmiao: ""

That's a bit unreasonable. She saw that Liu Lifeng was about the same age as Qin Qianyu, about two or three years older than her. He was tall, thin, and delicate, looking like a refined man. But she hadn't expected him to be so unreasonable when he got stubborn. Surely, being Kan Qingzhou's nemesis required special skills.

Qin Qianyu sent her a WeChat message to reassure her that it was okay and that she shouldn't worry about him. He was being sensitive because CEO Ren had said the first time, "If you ever come to question your boss without any basis or emotion again, you'll just go home." He was taking it personally. Don't be afraid. If he ignores you, just ignore him. You haven't lost.

Chu Qianmiao

What a logical statement, impossible to refute.

Qin Qianyu then asked Cui Xijie if he wanted to go that night. Cui Xijie smiled and said, "I'm not going tonight. I have something going on at home."

Qin Qianyu didn't force him and went to ask Yan Yunqiang.

Yan Yunqiang said he had a business flight at 4 a.m. the next morning and wouldn't go that night. He had to go home to pack his luggage and organize his materials.

In the end, the only people who attended the welcome party were Chu Qianmiao's old acquaintances: Qin Qianyu, Sun Yi, Lu Zhonger, and Wang Sian.

Qin Qianyu consoled Chu Qianmiao on WeChat, "Don't get upset. Those three often work together on projects. If Liu Lifeng says he can't go, even if the other two want to go, they'll find excuses to avoid, considering his feelings. Don't get upset. Old Liu will understand your true character over time."

Chu Qianmiao replied, "Brother Qin, I'm not upset. I just wanted to ask if the money reserved for those three doesn't go can be given to us in cash." The message was followed by a grinning emoji.

Qin Qianyu had just given her a thumbs-up, and before he could even write to praise her for her skill in exploiting her superiors, his phone started beeping again.

He answered. It was Ren Yan again.

This time, Ren Yan was asking him to go to his office.

As soon as Qin Qianyu hung up the phone, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Why is the boss so reluctant to part with me today?" He turned to look at Chu Qianmiao, standing up as he spoke, "I think the boss is trying to reassure me. He's telling me that even though he gave you the leather notebook, I'm still his most cherished right-hand man."

Chu Qianmiao pursed her lips in a smile. Behind her, Liu Lifeng sneered again.

"Bah, you're the boss's most cherished right-hand man, do you think I'm dead?"

Chu Qianmiao: "..."

So this is what investment banking is like. A bunch of old men can fight for each other's favor so fiercely, it's simply unbearable to watch.

Qin Qianyu entered Ren Yan's office, where Ren Yan asked him about some work matters. Then he told him, "Get ready. There's a project in Zhuhai, and you might have to accompany me on a business trip at any time."

Qin Qianyu said "Okay," feeling that he had explained everything and was about to leave.

But Ren Yan's sudden question pushed him back into his chair.

"Have you arranged the party tonight?" Ren Yan asked casually, as if it were just a casual question.

"Yes," Qin Qianyu said. "We're still in the Pure K."

"Who's going tonight?" Ren Yan asked casually.

"Liu Lifeng, Cui Xijie, and Yan Yunqiang aren't going, but everyone else is."

Ren Yan raised an eyebrow at this and looked at Qin Qianyu, his eyes telling him that they should continue their conversation.

Qin Qianyu was clueless; he couldn't communicate with Ren Yan with his eyes like Chu Qianmiao could.

"..." Qin Qianyu was a little confused, meeting Ren Yan's silent gaze, which spoke louder than words. "Boss, do you have something to ask me?"

Ren Yan's gaze shifted from anticipation to disdain.

"Don't any of you have someone to ask me?" Ren Yan had to bring it up himself.

Qin Qianyu was stunned for a moment before coming to his senses. "Because, Boss, you've already agreed not to go. Every time we asked you before, it was unnecessary."

After a pause, he gathered his composure and asked with eager anticipation, "Boss, will you join us for the party tonight?"

Ren Yan's expression was cold, "No."

"

Qin Qianyu felt like he'd been tricked by his inhumane boss again.

Qin Qianyu's eyes rolled, and as if suddenly enlightened, he said, "Boss, if you go tonight, then those three can go too. That would mean our department would achieve unprecedented unity. So, Boss, you go, you have to go."

Ren Yan raised one corner of his mouth and gave a cold smile. "No, I'm not going." After a pause, he said, "She has to manage her own interpersonal relationships."

Finally, Qin Qianyu and the other four warmly welcomed Chu Qianmiao to the party that evening.

Their party was almost identical to the one they'd held for Ren Yan's birthday. Qin Qianyu asked Chu Qianmiao, "The group we created with President Ren is still there. Do you want to send the photos of our gathering to President Ren, like we did before, to tease him? Maybe he'll come again. If he does, everyone will."

Chu Qianmiao smiled and shook her head, "No."

Qin Qianyu, slightly drunk, asked curiously, "Why not?"

Chu Qianmiao chose her words and told him, "Before, I wasn't his subordinate, so I could be casual without overstepping my bounds. But now it's different. As his direct subordinate, I have to understand the rules."

Qin Qianyu slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Qianmiao, you're overthinking this. We usually strictly follow the rules with President Ren except for work-related matters. He's aloof and doesn't really care anyway."

Chu Qianmiao smiled and didn't say anything more. But she had something clear in her mind: "I'm different from you. You haven't failed to confess your feelings to him twice, so you don't have to follow the rules to prove your point." Aspirations are ambitions that can be taken on and put down.

Two days after the welcome party, Chu Qianmiao received a call from Tan Shen.

Tan Shen sounded downcast and doubtful on the line. He asked, "Qianmiao, did you make the jump to Litong?"

Chu Qianmiao replied, "Yes."

Tan Shen remained silent for a moment, then begged her to grant him a lunch date.

"Can we have lunch together? I'm near the Financial Street."

Since it was alright, Chu Qianmiao said yes.

They arranged to have lunch at a Japanese restaurant in the building across from Litong.

When Chu Qianmiao arrived, Tan Shen was already waiting in a private room. After taking a seat, Chu Qianmiao noticed something had changed about Tan Shen.

He was still handsome, tall, and lean. But Chu Qianmiao felt that Tan Shen's demeanor had changed. He seemed a little more profound.

When the dishes were all served, Tan Shen looked at Chu Qianmiao, who was eating with her head down, and suddenly said, "I asked you to come to my place, but you insisted on going to Ren Yan's. You also said that he rejected you after you confessed. What's your motivation for coming so fast?" His words were full of teasing, jealousy, and a hint of resentment.

Chu Qianmiao, unfazed by his emotions, simply stated, "I'm pursuing my career."

Tan Shen said, "You can also achieve great things in your career here."

Chu Qianmiao put down her chopsticks, sighed, thought for a moment, and finally spoke the truth. "Ah Shen, don't you think you're too childish sometimes?"

Tan Shen started to walk towards the door.

Chu Qianmiao didn't try to stop him.

Tan Shen reached the door and paused. After standing there for a moment, he turned around, walked back, and sat down again.

He seemed like a completely different person, calmly and confidently asking Chu Qianmiao, "Tell me, how did I strike you as childish?"

Chu Qianmiao looked at him, feeling a strange sensation for a moment. In that moment, Tan Shen seemed to have matured.

She said, "You're such a chatterbox."

Tan Shen responded seriously, "I can stop being so chatty."

"You're just a fleeting enthusiast."

"Not anymore." After a pause, Tan Shen said, "I can be passionate for the rest of my life." After another pause, he added, "I'm not just saying this on impulse."

Chu Qianmiao: "you get all worked up when drunk, like a child using crying as a threat to get a toy from an adult."

Tan Shen: "If I get all worked up again after drinking, I'll chop my own mouth off."

Chu Qianmiao: "You're so emotional. You'll do whatever you want when you want, but you'll just walk away when you don't, without any regard for others' feelings."

Tan Shen: "I'll control my emotions from now on."

"I'll consider others' feelings from now on."

"If I walk away again, you'll spank me."

"Qianmiao," Tan Shen looked at Chu Qianmiao with a deep gaze, "I'll change all of that. Don't try to convince me that Ren Yan can achieve it. I can do it too, and I'm not any worse than him. I'll show you."

Chu Qianmiao felt a little touched. Someone was willing to put so much effort into her.

But the timing wasn't right, and neither was her frame of mind.

She sighed slowly and said to Tan Shen, "Shen, right now I just want to pursue my career. Let's just let things take their own course."