Water and Fire~Chapter 102.1: Sweet Too

 

Chapter 102.1: Sweet Too

A while later, Chu Qianmiao heard the phone on Qin Qianyu's desk ring. Qin Qianyu picked up and called out, "Mr. Ren." After a few words, he put the phone down and went to Ren Yan's office.

A few minutes later, he returned. Chu Qianmiao casually asked, " Mr. Ren, what does he want to talk to you about?

Qin Qianyu nodded and said, "Mr. Ren asked me to arrange the project schedule for our project and send it to him."

Chu Qianmiao figured this wasn't something Qin Qianyu had to call into the office to discuss.

About half an hour later, the phone on Qin Qianyu's desk rang again. Qin Qianyu picked up the phone, put it down again, and once again went to Ren Yan's office.

This time, he stayed a bit longer, almost fifteen minutes before emerging.

When he returned and sat down in the chair at his workstation, Chu Qianmiao casually asked, "Brother Qin, the boss has assigned you another task."

Qin Qianyu nodded excitedly, his eyes sparkling. "Not only does the boss love me, he's also giving me a boost. He told me that once Liya's project passes the review and goes public, I'll be officially an insurance agent. I'll get a promotion, a raise, and apply for an office. He also told me that I must be aware of my role as a leader and an insurance agent, remembering to help my subordinates, shoulder departmental responsibilities, and work in unity and mutual assistance. I must also focus on collective honor and make our team a harmonious whole where no one is left behind." Qin Qianyu grew increasingly excited, clenching his fists. "Brother, I felt like the boss was glowing when he said these words to me. How could there be a handsome man like our boss, who exudes such righteousness from the bottom of his heart?"

Chu Qianmiao: ""

She wanted to say, "Brother, think carefully about these words like 'unity and friendship,' 'mutual assistance,' and 'collective honor,' especially the phrase 'We must make our team a harmonious whole where no one is left behind.' Then you'll understand whether your radiant leader is truly righteous or simply angry."

At that moment, her phone on the desk vibrated. She picked it up and saw it was a message from Ren Yan.

Ren Yan was completely bewildered. "Can't you just give him some advice? How many times do I have to call him in before he understands?"

Chu Qianmiao almost burst out laughing at the two rhetorical questions.

In the past, this man's rhetorical questions were like little whips, terrifying them all because they lashed out at them like a lash. But now, his rhetorical question made Chu Qianmiao inexplicably feel as if he had lost some of his strength. When he flung them back at her, it felt like being brushed by willow branches budding in spring, a tingling sensation.

She suppressed her smile, turned around, and with a thoughtful expression, called out to Qin Qianyu, "Brother Qin, do you think we should ask President Ren about our farewell dinner tonight?"

Qin Qianyu suddenly slapped his forehead. "Oh, how could I forget about the boss again? It's his decision whether to go or not, but we should still ask."

With that, he stood up and went to Ren Yan's office again.

When he returned, his face beaming with joy, he continued to mutter, "Good news, good news! The leader said he'd have dinner with us tonight and offered to pay for our meal. He also said he'd bring a bottle of the finest wine—note, not Moutai, not Moutai, but Lafite!"

Everyone turned to look at him, agreeing that it was indeed good news while happily expressing their thoughts one after another.

"It's so rare that the leader came with money and fine wine!"

"That's great! I feel like the leader's been getting more involved with us lately."

"Hey, don't you think the leader's personal touch is getting stronger?"

Arriving at Chu Qianmiao's place, Chu Qianmiao quickly tapped her watch, feigning a mixture of joy and surprise. "Wow, great! Having the leader as our living moneybag is a great way to dine together! We can order the most expensive dishes without any scruples."

"That's right! Hahaha! It would be great if the leader could come to our gatherings from now on so we don't have to bring any money."

Her performance immediately blended into the chatter, perfectly natural and unobtrusive, just like any other day, giving no sign of any change in her relationship with the office boss.

She sighed silently.

Oh my god, it was only the first day. Life truly is a testament to acting skills.

Tonight, everyone went to Teppanyaki. Last time, they'd been craving the BBQ pork but couldn't get it, so this time, Qin Qianyu insisted on having it. Ren Yan sat in the middle. On his left and right were Qin Qianyu and Liu Lifeng, two fierce defenders of Ren Yan, flanking him as his left and right guards.

Chu Qianmiao sat next to Qin Qianyu.

Before, when they were close, she'd dared to glance at him quietly during meals, unfazed by the thought of being seen. But now that she and he had something going on, she felt so guilty she dared not even glance at him. Sometimes, when Liu Lifeng called her through Ren Yan, "Brother, come, have a drink," and she leaned over to clink glasses with him, her eyes accidentally meeting Ren Yan's, and her heart would leap.

She thought she would never be able to do anything wrong in her life. Before anyone could figure out anything, she would be consumed by guilt herself.

Towards the end of their meal, Qin Qianyu suddenly nagged her, "Qianmiao, change seats."

Chu Qianmiao's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively let out an abrupt "Ah!" that startled Qin Qianyu.

"Oh my god, why did you suddenly yell, 'I've had too much barley tea and Lafite!' Switch seats with me so I can go to the bathroom every now and then. It's just a simple thing. Why did you scare me with that yell, my little brother?"

Chu Qianmiao quickly stood up and shouted, "Mr. Qin, I'm sorry I disturbed you while you were using the restroom."

She switched seats with Qin Qianyu and sat down next to Ren Yan.

As soon as she sat down, she could hear her heartbeats getting louder and louder, her ears pounding so loudly that she could barely hear what others were saying.

She saw Ren Yan put down his chopsticks, turn to face her, and say seriously, "Chu Qianmiao, how do you think the materials for the private placement project are?"

Chu Qianmiao sighed, looked up, and reported earnestly, "I've carefully reviewed all the projects our department has worked on."

Ren Yan asked, "Is there anything you don't understand?"

Chu Qianmiao quickly said, "So far, it's all okay. I feel that a private placement is indeed much easier than an initial public offering."

Ren Yan warned her, "Although it's easy, there are still many small details to pay attention to when actually doing it. You should focus on verifying the company's use of the funds raised last time and the investment direction of the funds raised in this private placement. See if the company needs this financing to expand operations or to fill holes in its financial data."

Chu Qianmiao listened carefully and took careful note.

Qin Qianyu returned from the restroom and took Chu Qianmiao's seat, beginning to exclaim frantically, "Wow, Boss, you're not going to do that. You're still harassing Qianmiao and even telling her about work. Come on, Qianmiao, how about we switch places? That way, our boss won't continue to torture you."

Chu Qianmiao grumbled in agreement and stood up to switch seats with Qin Qianyu. As she did so, she saw Ren Yan glance at her with narrowed eyes, then glance back at Qin Qianyu, a hint of resignation in his eyes.

She suppressed a smile, thinking that he must have been driven to tears by this naive, unromantic subordinate of his.

After changing her seat, her phone vibrated. She glanced down. It was Ren Yan's message: "I'll take you home in a taxi later."

She quickly replied, "Okay."

Qin Qianyu whipped around and asked, "Who are you secretly chatting with, brother?"

Chu Qianmiao nearly threw her phone away.

"She was telling me he'd be home late," she lied, glaring.

Qin Qianyu frowned. "That's all, you're done. Put your phone away, put it away, and drink."

Chu Qianmiao's drinking had left her face rosy. After dinner, Ren Yan took her downstairs in a taxi. Seeing her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, and realizing they'd be separated the next day, he felt reluctant to let her go upstairs.

He simply dragged her to the first-floor stairwell and savored her soft, wine-soaked lips once more.

Chu Qianmiao felt the man pressing her against the wall, kissing her sternly. His lips carried the sharp scent of alcohol and the intense heat of a conquering force. He pressed his tongue into her mouth, stirring her with the most intimate touch, leaving her with no secrets to hide. His scent was thick with s*x, and his male hormones erupted from his body like an explosion, making her dizzy.

By the time he released her, she was panting, her legs weak. The sensor light had long since gone out, and moonlight filtered through the small window in the hallway. His face was cold, yet his eyes burned. This man was like a mixture of ice and fire, a contradictory combination that made him exude a deadly allure under the moonlight.

She looked at him, her heartbeat faster and faster, her chest heaving as she breathed. She placed her hand on his chest. It turned out he wasn't much better. The heart beneath his chest was beating as if it was about to burst.

She was clearly feeling a bit happy. She wasn't the only one feeling the urge to act silly, her heart racing.

He leaned in close, cupping her face with both hands and looking down at her. He brushed his thumb over her moist lips and whispered, hoarsely, "When you get to the project, do your best and don't embarrass me."

With her face in his palm, she nodded and uttered a "hmm."

"If you have any questions or problems you don't know how to solve, just call me." His husky voice added a hint of magnetism. How could this be tolerated?

She looked at his eyes and eyebrows, thinking he looked incredibly handsome in the moonlight filtering through the small window.

"Hmm," she nodded in his palm.

"Report to me every day on the day's progress." His voice was sensual and alluring.

She listened to her heartbeat and answered, "Yeah."

He smiled at her, a charming, mischievous smile. "I'll find time to visit you."

"Yeah."

After a pause, her eyes lit up. "Yeah."

He was going to visit her.

"Really?" she asked, her eyes curved with a smile.

Being a boss's girlfriend even gets the privilege of having the boss visit her on the job.

"Yeah." His eyes smiled, and he rubbed her lips again, letting her go home. "Go upstairs, get some sleep. You have a flight tomorrow."

But tonight, Chu Qianmiao lay in bed, unable to sleep.

Everything happened so quickly and so full last night. Her emotions were constantly changing. First, she was frightened by Xia Fengyong, then had to go to the statement, then saw Ren Yan injured, and then his confession and passionate kiss left her crying one moment and laughing the next. She was completely dazed the entire night.