Water and Fire~Chapter 103.2: Still Sweet

 

Chapter 103.2: Still Sweet

Starting the next day, everyone began working according to her assigned schedule and division of labor. During their work, the other two project managers often encountered questions they couldn't understand, and they would bring them to Gu Kai.

For example, one of the tall, thin project managers presented Gu Kai with documents related to the company's external guarantee and asked, "Brother Gu, are there any problems with this guarantee document?"

Gu Kai glanced through them and declared them to be fine.

Chu Qianmiao later reviewed the guarantee document. She paid particular attention to the board's vote and then reviewed the resumes of each director. After repeated inspections, she indeed discovered some issues.

She then found a quiet moment to reiterate her thoughts to Gu Kai. If Gu Kai took all the credit, she wouldn't care about his face. She would directly explain to him and the two project managers that there were issues with the guarantee, explaining where the issues lay and how they needed to be addressed. This way, she would clarify her professional capabilities.

But Gu Kai wasn't one to take all the credit, so she chose to speak to him privately. "Gu Kai, regarding the guarantee documents, I've looked at the board resolution document. A director is named on the signature page. I checked his resume, and his wife works at a wholly-owned subsidiary of the guaranteed company. Given this relationship, this director should recuse himself from the vote. So, we need to tell the company to quickly re-upload the resolution document and have the director recuse himself. Also, since there's so much controversy surrounding guarantees these days, and many signatures are forged or used by others, don't take photos when directors sign the vote. It's best to just record a video."

Gu Kai clapped his hands and said, "Ah, I honestly didn't notice anything about that. Qian Miao, you're so attentive, and you're right about that. Recording a video of the signing process is a reliable way to go."

He then told the tall, lanky project manager about this and asked him to follow up on it. The tall, lanky project manager praised Gu Kai for his meticulousness and said he still had a lot to learn from him.

Gu Kai then told him, "You need to learn a lot from Manager Chu. We all need to learn a lot from her. Manager Chu discovered this."

The tall, thin project manager looked at Chu Qianmiao with a touch of admiration, saying, "Manager Chu is worthy of having passed the insurance agent exam. Her professional skills are truly solid."

This situation became more frequent, and Gu Kai bluntly said, "If you have any questions, just ask Manager Chu directly. Her approach and perspective are more comprehensive than mine."

So, the two project managers began to ask Chu Qianmiao questions directly. This was when Chu Qianmiao fully demonstrated her strong professional skills. She always considered the problem from the root and thoroughly examined every aspect.

Having worked with Ren Yan for so long, she had long since developed a strong mental fortitude. She had developed the demeanor of a general, never panicking when faced with any difficult problem, and she could solve even the most complex issues with a clear and logical approach.

Occasionally, when she encountered a problem she couldn't solve, she would quietly call Ren Yan. With just a few pointers from Ren Yan, she instantly unlocked her Ren and Du meridians, furthering her investment banking skills.

Gradually, the two project managers and Gu Kai all came to trust her, and before they knew it, she had become the true core person on the project. She meticulously orchestrated every aspect of the project, including which tasks should be performed at each stage, how each team member's work priorities should be prioritized, and the required level of application documentation.

Whenever company personnel raised requests, she would carefully assess them based on the circumstances. If they were reasonable, her project team would implement them; if they were somewhat unreasonable, they would try their best to accommodate them. If they were completely unreasonable, she would argue with the company staff, both fending off unreasonable requests and protecting the project team members from responsibility.

Her leadership, ability, and commitment gradually became apparent. It's unclear when it all started, but everyone voluntarily followed her instructions and made her the true project leader.

Gradually, she gained a good reputation within the share issuance project team in Li Si's department, earning her the reputation of "Manager Chu is a highly capable person." Her appearance no longer played a role in her evaluation.

Chu Qianmiao had been busy with the project recently, devoting most of her attention and energy to it. While the project wasn't difficult, the detailed work was quite tiring. Ren Yan's project was also busy. Chu Qianmiao had heard from Qin Qianyu that the company there was large and complex, with many issues to sort out, and they were working overtime almost every night.

So, she and Ren Yan couldn't have the usual couples, spending long, affectionate phone calls. She wondered if this was the nature of love in investment banking: the two of them flying back and forth, each working overtime, and occasionally checking in, but even that brief moment was enough to energize them for the next day's work.

Other couples might say, "Baby, do you miss me? I miss you so much!"

But her boyfriend had told her on the phone, "If you have any difficulties with the project, call me. Remember, I'm your support."

He never said he missed her, never called her "baby," but she felt she still possessed the most beautiful love words in the world.

In November, the beginning of winter, both she and Ren Yan became busier. The weather was getting colder, and she had already added a sweater under her coat. From shirt to sweater, counting the days, it seemed like they hadn't seen each other for ages.

But they still insisted on talking every day, even if it was only briefly. During their last call, Chu Qianmiao had said she was craving a sweet cake and that she'd decided to buy one the next day after get off work.

But she quickly forgot about it. The next day was Thursday, and after get off work, she returned to her hotel room, working while waiting for Ren Yan's nightly call.

But today, Ren Yan's call was long overdue.

Chu Qianmiao had only been in one relationship before. When he didn't contact her before, she'd thought it was no big deal. We were all adults, and no one survived by waiting for a call. It was best to just do what needed to be done.

But this time, not only did he not contact her at all, but even the slightest delay in contacting her made her feel a pang of anxiety.

She slumped over the table, thinking that if Ren Yan didn't call in five minutes, she'd call him. As she waited, she fell asleep, her arm resting on her head. When she woke up again, it was the ringing of her phone that jolted her awake.

Seeing the caller ID perked her up. After answering the call, she happily called out, "Senior." Then, she felt a hint of flirtation lurking in those two words, and she felt a little embarrassed.

Ren Yan's voice was low and deep on the phone, and he started with a barrage of questions. "I heard you're thriving on this project and have become a core member. Those three male members are said to be very obedient to your instructions."

Chu Qianmiao: "Ah!" Why did his tone sound strange?

"So, you're so happy and enjoying yourself that you don't want to leave," he continued with his odd questions.

Chu Qianmiao: "What's the connection?"

He paused on the other end of the line. "So, I won't call you, and you won't call either."

So that's the crux of the matter?

"Senior, I was going to call you, but I just fell asleep. I can take a selfie as proof. There's still a mark on my face from sleeping under my sweater."

He seemed to chuckle on the other end of the line.

She quickly asked, "Boss, who told you I'm thriving on this project?"

He replied coldly, "Your call."

She quickly changed it to "Senior."

He finally answered, but sparingly, "Li Si."

Chu Qianmiao suspected Li Si had consulted his three subordinates and the company's senior management. She was somewhat pleased that her good reputation had spread to her boss and boyfriend.

She hadn't embarrassed him.

She suddenly heard him ask, "Did you have the sweet cake today?"

She was startled, remembering what she had said to him on the phone yesterday.

She smiled sheepishly and said, "I forgot."

He suddenly said, "Then come downstairs now." After a pause, he said, "I ordered a cake for you; it should be delivered to the hotel entrance."

She cheered, immediately threw on her coat, and ran to the door, not even changing into her hotel's disposable slippers.

She took the elevator to the first floor and ran to the door. She spotted an exquisite cake box on the doorpost, but no delivery boy.

She quickly called Ren Yan and asked, "Is this the cake at the door? I didn't see the delivery boy. If so, I'll take it in."

Ren Yan's voice was low, and he said, "Yes."

She didn't hang up. She smiled, "Thank you, senior," and bent down to pick up the cake box. With it, she happily turned and headed into the lobby.

At that moment, a voice echoed simultaneously from the phone receiver and the real world: "Just the cake, no matter who delivered it."

She froze, holding the phone.

Then she turned sharply.

He was standing behind her, wearing his favorite suit and shirt, a jacket or coat draped over one arm, the other still on the phone. He looked a little dusty, standing there, looking at her, a sideways smile on his lips. He raised his coat-draped arm toward her and beckoned her. His voice echoed simultaneously through his phone and the real world, "Come here."

She thought she was doomed. His "Come here" might have taken her soul away.

Chu Qianmiao put away her phone and rushed to Ren Yan.

Her heart pounded, her eyes wide with joy, and she looked up and asked, "Why are you here?"

He looked down at her and feigned indifference, "I came to see my girlfriend."

Chu Qianmiao wanted to hide under the covers and pound the bed.

She felt her face flush.

The corner of his mouth twitched faintly, and he came over to take her hand and gently rubbed it.

She thought her face wasn't just a feeling, it was definitely red.

"Tomorrow there's a regular meeting for department heads at the company, and I have to go back. I stopped by to see you on my way," he said, rubbing her hand.

Her cheeks flushed, and she tried to appear calm. "Then will you leave tomorrow morning?"

He stared at her flushed face for a long moment, not blinking, as if he couldn't bear to.

"No, I'll be leaving soon," he said, checking his watch. "I can only stay another half an hour."

She was stunned by the words.

Such a short time.

And yet, just to see her for such a short time, he'd made this special trip.

She felt her heartbeat quicken, as if she were about to have a heart attack.

She tugged at his hand, giving it a firm squeeze. "Half an hour left. Come on, I'll take you upstairs for cake."

Ren Yan was being pulled along by her, her arm stretched backward, his arm stretched forward, and their clasped hands.

His gaze shifted from their linked hands to her body.

Her long hair flowed over her shoulders, her figure slender, her waist slim and her legs long. She herself was like a tempting cake.

He noticed she was wearing disposable slippers.

As they entered the elevator, he stepped on them, instantly crushing them.

She groaned, looked up at him, and teased, "You have to compensate me for my shoes. I can't walk anymore." Her foot, still in the broken slipper, curled its toes at him. Each toe, as delicate and beautiful as a grain of white flour.

The elevator door closed, separating them from the outside world.

He suddenly scooped her up, holding her in his arms like a princess.

She groaned again, quickly protecting the cake. When she looked up at him, her face flushed even more.

He glanced down at her and said, "Then don't walk. I'll do it for you."

She lowered her head, her ears reddening.

She thought it was a good thing the demon was only staying for half an hour tonight. If it had been longer, she'd have worried she wouldn't have been able to control herself.