Water and Fire~Chapter 76.1: Don't Be So Sentimental

 

Chapter 76.1: Don't Be So Sentimental

By the time Chu Qianmiao returned to the due diligence office, she had regained her composure.

Qin Qianyu was still chatting with Liu Lifeng, Cui Xijie, and the others. They were sharing their respective career experiences and the various bizarre anecdotes stemming from proxy equity holding.

Chu Qianmiao listened closely and her perspective was completely redefined.

The case Qin Qianyu was describing was even more fascinating and exaggerated than Qian Siji's hypocritical remarks.

"A classmate of mine from the investment banking department of another securities firm previously worked on a project. Similarly, the company's real owner had given his shares to his brother to hold on his behalf. Because the source of the company's capital was a bit unclear, his brother, who was doing business, asked him to hold the shares on his behalf, believing it would be more convincing to the public. Since they were brothers, there was no written agreement. Later, the real owner planned to take the company public and discussed transferring the shares back to his name. His brother said it was fine, as it was already his. But before the transfer could be made, misfortunes never come singly. The real owner suffered a heart attack and passed away.

"His death was so sudden that he didn't have time to write a will, leaving the family in turmoil. The real owner's wife demanded the shares back from his brother, arguing that his brother was merely holding the shares on his behalf and that the shares were still theirs. But his brother's wife, his sister-in-law, refused to give in. Even after persuasion, the brother changed his tune, insisting that the shares belonged to whoever held them. Therefore, with his brother gone, the company belonged to them. "

Liu Lifeng tutted his words. "Oh, what a mess! What happened next?"

Qin Qianyu said, "That's just the beginning. It gets even more chaotic. Then a young woman showed up, carrying a child, and went to the wife of the real boss who had died of a heart attack. She told her the child she was carrying was the real boss's, and even casually presented a paternity test, performed before the real boss died."

Chu Qianmiao clenched her pen at this. It was another classic case of a boss, a mistress, and an illegitimate child. What's wrong with the world of the rich? If they don't find a mistress and have a child with her, do they feel their money's gone to waste?

She heard Qin Qianyu continue, "This young woman was the real boss's mistress. She brought the child to the boss's wife and said, 'Sister, I know you hate me, but let's not fight among ourselves just yet. We need to unite and fight the child's parents. We need to work together to reclaim our man's equity first.' I can't argue with the equity, after all, I have no legal status, but my child is innocent and has a legal right to inherit.

Chu Qianmiao listened from the side, her pen nearly snapping in anger. If she were the wife, she'd slap her without a word.

Who's your sister? Who's even from the same nest as you? Which bastard is your man? Who would we ask to work together with you? How shameless!

Chu Qianmiao's hands were shaking. She was furious.

"What happened next?" Liu Lifeng pressed.

Qin Qianyu announced the ending. "Later, the project was shut down, and my classmates all withdrew. But I heard the legal wife wasn't giving up for nothing either. She slapped the mistress first, then schemingly let her out to fight her uncle to the death, while she watched from the back. The mistress and the uncle were fighting so fiercely that the parties are still at a standstill. The company is practically bankrupt. Going public will probably take time for another life. "

Liu Lifeng shook his head and sighed after hearing this. "Shareholding on behalf of others is such a trap. So many people have fallen for it."

Chu Qianmiao's focus of indignation was different. Women and men may always have different concerns. What upset her most about these things was why these men betrayed their marriages and families. Why did some women, knowing that a man had a family, still throw themselves on him and become his mistress? What did they really love, the husband, or his wallet? They were truly heartless.

She was indignant. Qin Qianyu, who had finished his gossip, walked over to her, patted her shoulder, and comforted her, "You've been challenged again, haven't you? It's okay. Where there are people, there are moral declines. Just watch more and you'll be able to treat it like a joke or gossip, like I do." "

Chu Qianmiao smiled. It was a forced smile.

She thought that investment banking was truly a world of fame and fortune, a place where one could witness the fickleness of human nature. Perhaps with so much experience, one gradually becomes numb, indifferent to even the most bizarre things.

Like Ren Yan.

After learning the true reason for the proxy holding, Ren Yan managed to embellish it for Qian Siji, making it more palatable if asked about it at the meeting.

Ren Yan asked Chu Qianmiao if she had interviewed Qian Fendou as well when she interviewed Qian Siji. Chu Qianmiao replied, "No. Qian Siji said he couldn't contact Qian Fendou at the moment."

Ren Yan told her, "He probably said that back then because he was afraid we'd find out the real reason for his proxy holding and didn't want us to contact his cousin. But now that we're no longer arguing with him about the proxy holding, it should be easier to interview Qian Fendou." He instructed Chu Qianmiao that she should find a way to conduct the interview. Qian Fendou was the original nominee for the shares, and the interview would confirm his eligibility as a shareholder while holding shares, as well as the absence of potential equity disputes after the resumption of the holdings. This was a necessary step for the IPO.

Chu Qianmiao immediately complied. She first contacted Assistant Director Ke Mingjun and reiterated her request to interview Qian Fendou.

Ke Mingjun frowned and said, "Qian Fendou is just an honest farmer who doesn't care about anything else besides farming. There's no need for this."

Chu Qianmiao patiently explained that interviewing nominees and shareholders wasn't a rule set by her or her firm, Litong Securities. It was a listing requirement set by the regulatory authorities.

Ke Mingjun frowned and consulted Qian Siji. Qian Siji graciously met Chu Qianmiao in person.

Qian Siji's eyes were bright, his face dignified, and he exuded a righteous air. Chu Qianmiao wondered how much better it would have been if she hadn't known what kind of man Qian Siji was. Then, facing him now, she wouldn't have to act so hypocritically.

Qian Siji smiled and asked Chu Qianmiao, "Manager Chu, my cousin is just a nominee. Is it really necessary for you to interview him?" He seemed a little impatient.

But Chu Qianmiao patiently explained that this was a requirement set by the regulatory authorities, and their brokerage firm was strictly following it.

Qian Siji continued to smile, but his fingers drummed on the table, the thudding sound betraying his displeasure.

Finally, the thudding stopped, and Qian Siji said, "My cousin is abroad, so it's not convenient to interview him." "

Chu Qianmiao saw Ke Mingjun nervously pushing his glasses up.

She didn't put Ke Mingjun in a bad position, nor did she mention that he had accidentally let her know. "Your cousin should be in the countryside, right? He's an honest farmer."

She figured Qian Siji must have seen in Qian Fendou's honesty and chosen him to hold the shares for him.

She smiled at Qian Siji and said, "It's okay, Mr. Qian. Since we can't do an in-person interview, we can do a phone interview and record the conversation. It's the same thing." Qian Siji gave in and dialed the overseas number to a rural location in China, where he contacted his cousin, Qian Fendou. Chu Qianmiao went through the motions during the call, confirming with Qian Fendou that the equity had been fully restored and that there were no potential disputes.

Before Qian Fendou hung up, he half-shouted, "Shares? They've all been returned. Don't call me again. If you have anything, just talk to Siji directly. You're really annoying me for interrupting my work."

Chu Qianmiao apologized profusely.

After politely thanking Qian Siji and Ke Mingjun, she left the chairman's office.

She didn't return directly to the due diligence office. Instead, she took the elevator downstairs and went to the open space in front of the office building to get some fresh air.

It was spring, the season of revival, the lush greenery, and the chirping of birds. Even the air, thick with the industrial aroma, was permeated with a hint of spring's vitality.

She breathed in the spring air, lost in thought. She'd expected to lose her temper and flinch the next time she saw Qian Siji. But she surprised herself. She didn't even betray her inner disdain, and she even put on a mask of smiles.

She didn't know if she'd grown up, or if she was drifting further and further away from her former self. She wondered if her former classmates were facing the same workplace dilemma as she was.

She thought the workplace was a grinding mill. When they graduated, she and her classmates were all vibrant and sharp. But the workplace gradually ground their youth into dust, smoothed their sharp edges, and transformed them, unknowingly, into people who constantly donned a mask.

This mask was one of commercial smoothness, of lip service, of a man who spoke only half the truth, of a man who was not what he really was. She suddenly felt that this change was boring, a bit depressing.

A voice rang in her ear.

"What's wrong again?"

Following the sound, she turned her head and saw Ren Yan standing not far away, smoking. He must have just come out; the cigarette looked freshly lit.

She thought for a moment and asked, "Senior, I want to ask you a question."

Ren Yan's hand holding the cigarette trembled at her sudden call.

Just now, from upstairs, he had seen her, through the window, relaxing downstairs. He had heard Qin Qianyu and the others say that the bizarre incidents on the project had shaken her perspective and that she was trying to adjust her mindset.

He looked down at her footsteps, which left a chaotic trail on the floor below. Those footsteps captured her turbulent mood.

He stood up, excused himself for a cigarette, and went downstairs.

Now, hearing this long-lost address, he felt that the cigarette had been worth it.

He shook his hand, flicked the ash, and said, "Ask..." in a low voice, sparing his words. "

Chu Qianmiao sighed and said, "I'm deeply annoyed with Qian Siji, but I can still talk to him about work with a smile. I feel like I've become quite hypocritical. Is this progress or deterioration?"

Ren Yan took a drag on his cigarette and slowly exhaled.

"Let me help you shift your perspective on this question: Can people continue to be themselves after entering the workplace?"

Chu Qianmiao thought about it and concluded that this shift was more or less equivalent. She nodded, waiting for the answer.

Ren Yan, holding his cigarette between his fingers, scratched his brow with his pinky finger, then raised one corner of his mouth and smiled. "Yes, but you have to be strong enough. If you say one thing, no one can deny it. Then you can be whoever you want to be. If you want to be yourself, you can be yourself."

He paused, then added, "But before that, a certain amount of hypocrisy is necessary. It's like a protective amulet for you. You know who you really are, and that's good." "

Chu Qianmiao took note.

Be the strongest person you can be.

"Thank you, Mr. Ren."

She smiled, her energy restored, and went upstairs.

Ren Yan stared at the half-smoked cigarette in his hand, stunned for a moment, then gave a helpless smile.

When asking questions, he was a senior, and after answering, he was Mr. Ren. It worked.