Water and Fire~Chapter 88.2: The Clever Girl

 

Chapter 88.2: The Clever Girl

The next day, Ren Yan left the due diligence office, saying he was taking Chu Qianmiao and Qin Qianyu to a meeting with Qian Siji. He borrowed a car from the company and asked Qin Qianyu to drive. Chu Qianmiao slipped into the passenger seat, leaving the entire back seat to Ren Da Lao alone.

From the back seat, Ren Yan called Ms. Bao, the company's finance manager.

When Chu Qianmiao heard Ren Yan give several timeframes, he asked Sister Bao to look up the corresponding invoices from Cui Xijie's expense reports and ask her to take photos of them and send them over.

Chu Qianmiao mentally sorted out the timeframes. They seemed to be the times Cui Xijie would travel from one project to another.

Before he could figure out what important information these timeframes might hold, Qin Qianyu had already parked the car in front of the restaurant.

Before they went in, Ren Yan stopped Chu Qianmiao and said, "You'll be responsible for dealing with the boss later."

Chu Qianmiao patted her chest and said, "Okay."

As soon as she entered, she approached the female owner and explained that she was a returning customer. The female owner looked puzzled, unsure of where this new customer had come from. She remained calm, naturally and unobtrusively showering the female boss with compliments, covering everything from her appearance, her demeanor, her conversation, and her booming business. Qin Qianyu, listening nearby, was lost, along with the female boss. Ren Yan smiled, and the female boss, holding her hand, repeatedly admitted, "Yes, yes, you're my repeat customer."

As the conversation warmed up, Chu Qianmiao got down to business. She explained that she had dined there a few days ago and lost something, including her phone and wallet, so she wanted to check the security footage to see where it went. She even showed the female boss a photo of the invoice to prove her visit, and told her she only wanted to see the security footage from the day the invoice was issued.

The female boss, upon seeing the photo, immediately declared, "You're indeed my repeat customer." She then promptly dispatched a waiter to help Chu Qianmiao retrieve the security footage.

Qin Qianyu and Ren Yan sat at the computer, staring at the video feed, while Chu Qianmiao continued to chat with the female boss about various matters. Later in the conversation, the female boss insisted on asking Chu Qianmiao to be her sister-in-law, saying, "My brother is very well-off. He owns over ten houses, runs his own company, and he's handsome. You two are a perfect match."

Seeing that Chu Qianmiao was about to sacrifice the rest of his life for a video, Ren Yan and Qin Qianyu finally stood up from their computers.

Qin Qianyu said seriously, "I've seen it. It shouldn't be left here."

Chu Qianmiao hurriedly thanked and apologized to the female boss, then said goodbye. The female boss escorted them all the way out the door. Even after Chu Qianmiao got into the car, she waved and emphasized, "My brother is really great!"

Chu Qianmiao was in a state of confusion as she fastened her seatbelt in the passenger seat.

Qin Qianyu teased her, "Qianmiao, you're so incredibly popular, it's outrageous, hahahaha."

Chu Qianmiao wasn't sure if Qin Qianyu's word for "outrageous" was correct. She glanced up and caught Ren Yan's eye in the rearview mirror.

She asked, "Mr. Ren, what can I do for you?"

Ren Yan looked at her, silent, and handed her the phone from behind.

Chu Qianmiao took the phone and understood. Ren Yan had recorded the surveillance video.

Three people had eaten that meal that day, but Liu Lifeng wasn't among them. Those three were Cui Xijie, Qu Xincai, and Li Ya's interviewers.

Wang Wantong, the Purchasing Manager. In the silent footage, Wang Wantong introduced Cui Xijie and Qu Xincai to each other in the lobby. Cui Xijie and Qu Xincai shook hands enthusiastically, and then the three of them walked into a private room together.

Chu Qianmiao thought she should be able to understand everything.

Qin Qianyu drove, while Ren Yan sat in the back seat, looking out the window at the industrial city at the turn of spring and summer.

Chu Qianmiao explained the entire process to the still confused Qin Qianyu.

"At first, Cui Xijie was staying in the hotel with an injured leg. Wang Wantong, feeling guilty about being the one who caused Cui Xijie's injury, often visited him. The two of them developed a close relationship. You know, Cui Xijie's innocent smile gave people a very pleasant first impression, so Wang Wantong quickly considered him a friend. Wang Wantong was Li Ya's purchasing manager, and Xinghen was one of Li Ya's suppliers, so Wang Wantong happened to be dealing with Xinghen on a regular basis. When Cui Xijie and Wang Wantong became close, Li Ya was about to acquire Xinghen's materials."

Ren Yan sat in the back, his head tilted to the side, staring out the window. His ears were fixed on Chu Qianmiao's clear, pleasant voice. He couldn't help but curl one corner of his mouth as he listened.

She was the smartest and most insightful of all the people he had ever worked with. Just ask her about anything, and she'd understand everything.

"As for Cui Xijie, it's very likely that after developing some rapport with Wang Wantong, he discussed something with Wang Wantong, perhaps trying to persuade him to strike it rich. Wang Wantong, in effect, facilitated this opportunity by having Cui Xijie meet with Qu Xincai privately. Wang Wantong then facilitated the dinner listed on the invoice, connecting Cui Xijie and Qu Xincai. During the dinner, Cui Xijie told Qu Xincai the highest possible acquisition price, then asked Qu Xincai to raise the price based on that price. Once the acquisition was successful, Qu Xincai would keep a percentage of the difference, and he and Wang Wantong would share a percentage."

Chu Qianmiao finished explaining the whole story, then turned around and asked Ren Yan, "Leader, am I correct?"

Ren Yan turned and looked at her, offering her a generous smile. "Yes."

Qin Qianyu digested this for a long time before asking, "Is Mr. Cui so obsessed with money that he can't buy invoices for reimbursement? He's shortchanged, so he's anxious to get the money back from somewhere else. It seems foolish of him to do that. Is he sure that even if we can guess that he's the one who tipped the price, we can't do anything to him without evidence?"

Chu Qianmiao said, "That's one aspect of it. I also think he's probably desperately short of money and can't afford to worry about anything else."

Ren Yan, in the back seat, actually chimed in.

"He's definitely desperately short of money."

He sent a few pictures to Chu Qianmiao's phone.

Chu Qianmiao looked down. They must have been Cui Xijie's expense reports and invoices that Ms. Bao from the Finance Department had sent to Ren Yan.

Among several train and flight itineraries to various business trips, there was a flight itinerary for his flight to Macau.

Chu Qianmiao's heart skipped a beat, thinking that this was a complete case.

Between rushing from one project to another, Cui Xijie flew to Macau.

What could one do there? Naturally, gambling.

So he was short of money, desperately needing to siphon it from various channels and through various means.

Chu Qianmiao looked back at Ren Yan.

Ren Yan saw a complex expression on her face.

A touch of disgust, a touch of fear, a touch of pity. She despised and pitied a gambler, yet also feared selling her soul to a gambler.

Ren Yan comforted her with his eyes.

It's okay.

Silent comfort flowed quietly in the small space.

Qin Qianyu suddenly broke the silence, asking Chu Qianmiao what she had just received, and why her aura had suddenly changed, as if her golden microcosm had shrunk to a bronze one.

Chu Qianmiao told Qin Qianyu the contents of the picture Ren Yan had sent her and the conclusions she had drawn. Qin Qianyu uttered "Oh my god!" several times in a row.

"I always heard him say he was going to Hong Kong, and I thought he had a love interest there. Turns out his real heart wasn't in Hong Kong, but in Macau."

Ren Yan asked Qin Qianyu to drive the car to the hotel first.

The three of them returned to his room to discuss the next steps.

Qin Qianyu asked, "Boss, what should we do next? Should we confront Cui Xijie?"

Ren Yan looked up at Chu Qianmiao and nodded, "Tell me."

Chu Qianmiao didn't look at him. She felt that his eyes had been strange and irritating lately. She turned to Qin Qianyu and said, "I don't think a confrontation is a good idea. Even if we show Cui Xijie the video, as long as he refuses to admit it and insists he just had dinner with Qu Xincai and Wang Wantong, there's nothing we can do." After a pause, she continued, "Besides, our priority right now isn't to catch the traitor, but to resolve this related-party transaction. Pulling Cui Xijie into a confrontation would be like slapping Qu Xincai in the face, and the acquisition would be a complete rift. So, this isn't a good idea."

Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and she exuded the aura of a leader who could see the big picture and strategize.

The more Qin Qianyu listened, the more impressed he became with her.

Ren Yan's voice rang out from the side.

"So," his voice prompted Chu Qianmiao to turn and look at him, "if it's you, what are your plans for the future?"

Ren Yan looked at Chu Qianmiao, a smile curling his lips as she asked.

Chu Qianmiao's eyelashes fluttered at his smile. She inconspicuously averted her eyes, lowered her head in thought, then looked back at Ren Yan, breaking into a smile. "Don't tell him anything," she said. "Keep him in the dark and help us complete the rest of the story."

That smile was cunning and bright, as dazzling as a summer flower.

Ren Yan forced himself to look away. He couldn't let Qin Qianyu, standing beside him, see anything.

If he continued to look at her smile, his eyes would pop out.

The author has something to say about Ren Yan, my girl. She's so smart, pretty, talkative, and sweet when kissed. Oh my goodness, he's acting like a schizophrenic again in his mini-theater.