Water and Fire~Chapter 146.4: The Finale

 

Chapter 146.4: The Finale 

After the acquisition battle between Hanhai and Henong, Chu Qianmiao kept thinking about one thing. Kan Qingzhou and Tan Shen were under investigation. Once the problems with their project were fully investigated, Litong Securities, as the financial advisor, would undoubtedly be penalized, and Litong's sponsorship license would likely be suspended.

She thought it might be time to consider the next step in her career. Perhaps it was time for her to change careers.

She'd done everything she could in investment banking, and she'd done it well. So, perhaps she could try a different field next, embark on a new journey, learn new skills, and develop new abilities.

For example, like Ren Yan, she could join a company. While working on a previous project, an industry and company she was optimistic about had offered her a senior management position more than once. She was tempted to jump on the offer.

But before that, she received some incredible news. Qin Qianyu and his wife, who had been trying to conceive for years without success, had secretly undergone IVF at the beginning of the year. It was successful, and two days ago, two plump little babies arrived crying loudly.

Chu Qianmiao and Ren Yan went to Qin Qianyu's house to see the babies. Qin Qianyu kept calling Chu Qianmiao "Sister-in-law," beaming with joy. Qin Qianyu's wife was incredibly beautiful and gentle. She held Chu Qianmiao's hand and said, with an expression of impatience, "Ever since the birth, Qin Qianyu has been incredibly excited. Qianmiao, ignore him. You don't even know. The day I gave birth, he cried even louder than the children. The doctors thought I had given birth to three children at once. He's still my son."

Chu Qianmiao just laughed heartily as Qin Qianyu's wife, gentle, beautiful, and serious, told her a joke.

Before leaving, Qin Qianyu's wife and Chu Qianmiao added each other on WeChat. Looking at Chu Qianmiao's profile picture, Qin Qianyu's wife said, "Qianmiao, you're such a beautiful girl, why is your profile picture a man?"

Chu Qianmiao pondered why her profile picture was a man. Suddenly, she remembered that it was because the person asking the question had changed it. Back then, during the project, Qin Qianyu had told her in the chat box to change her profile picture to a man first. Although there's nothing between you and me, your female profile picture makes my wife feel insecure, and her insecurity could lead to my death. (chapter 25)

So, she switched to Stephen Chow, and she's been using him ever since.

She couldn't help but sigh, how many years have flown by. Yet, it seemed like only yesterday.

That night, Chu Qianmiao told Ren Yan about her plan to switch to a senior management position in a company. Ren Yan fully supported her proposal.

He asked Chu Qianmiao when she planned to resign.

Chu Qianmiao said, "Let's finish this project. Regardless of whether Litong's sponsorship qualifications are suspended by then, I'll finish my work from beginning to end."

Ren Yan patted her head approvingly and mimicked her, saying, "Good girl."

Chu Qianmiao almost burst out laughing.

He was really being picky now. He would definitely find a way to make amends for any mistakes she'd made.

While Chu Qianmiao was wrapping up the project, something happened.

One night, Hou Lin called her in a panic. She explained that she was working overtime at the company, and Ge Song from the Fixed Income Department hadn't left yet. He'd come to her workstation and told her he loved her, then forcefully hugged and kissed her. Later, a colleague passed by, and Ge Song said it was Hou Lin who had seduced him.

As Chu Qianmiao listened to Hou Lin's story, her hands trembled as she held the phone. She recalled her own past experiences.

She asked Hou Lin what she planned to do.

Hou Lin said, "Boss, I can't bear this."

Chu Qianmiao said, "Okay, I'll go see Ge Song's supervisor tomorrow and have him apologize to you in front of everyone at the company."

The next day, Chu Qianmiao went to see Ge Song's supervisor, a forty-year-old man. The other party thought Chu Qianmiao and Hou Lin were making a big deal out of nothing. "It's just a matter of mutual consent between men and women, isn't it? Ms. Chu, you're still young. When you're my age, you won't be so surprised."

Chu Qianmiao sternly told him, "It's definitely not consensual. This is sexual harassment. If you protect Ge Song and refuse to apologize, we'll sue him."

The other party shrugged it off, and Ge Song felt a little smug. Rumors circulated around the company, with all sorts of stories. The most common one was that Hou Lin had been cheating on Ge Song with her boyfriend, and after being caught, she had to insist, to save face, that Ge Song had sexually harassed her.

Hou Lin cried in frustration.

Chu Qianmiao asked her, "Did you record the last time I asked you to reject Ge Song?"

Hou Lin immediately remembered this and quickly handed Chu Qianmiao the recorder.

Chu Qianmiao played the recording over the PA system for everyone to hear. The clearest recordings of Hou Lin's resolute refusal and Ge Song's persistent pursuit echoed throughout the office.

But Ge Song still refused to apologize. Chu Qianmiao immediately asked Hou Lin to sue Ge Song for sexual harassment and helped her contact a lawyer.

Hou Lin felt guilty, feeling that her story was truly burdensome to Chu Qianmiao.

Chu Qianmiao told Hou Lin, "It's my responsibility to fight for your rights. It's my responsibility to protect my subordinates. And I'm not just helping you, I'm helping myself. I went through the same situation as you. Back then, public opinion was very unforgiving, believing it was mostly the fault of women being promiscuous, wearing skirts that were too short, or wearing revealing clothing. Fortunately, the status of women in the workplace is gradually changing, and I must seek justice for you. In fact, I'm also seeking justice for myself back then."

After the recording was released, the accusation that Hou Lin initiated the affair finally died down.

But after Hou Lin sued Ge Hui, all sorts of gossip reignited. Male employees privately complained that Chu Qianmiao and Hou Lin had gone too far. After all, they worked for the same company, and yet they had to resort to such an embarrassing legal battle.

In the tea room, some male employees mocked and joked, "Female employees are so precious these days. You can't even touch them. If you do, you'll be sued."

The others laughed boisterously.

Chu Qianmiao pushed the door open and silenced the shameless laughter.

"Don't you think it's shameful that you can touch a female employee's hand? You live in the modern world, but your minds are still in the Qing Dynasty. Looking at each of you, you're not convinced. Do you want to listen to my lecture? Then stop thinking dirty things. Work hard and get to my position. Hurry and surpass me. Otherwise, there's nothing I can do. I, a female employee, am your boss, and you have to accept my lecture."

Although the male employees were gossiping, the female employees were thankful for Chu Qianmiao's silent support. They cheered Chu Qianmiao and Hou Lin up, and every day Chu Qianmiao received more and more admiring glances from the girls, as well as delicious snacks from them.

They said, "Ms. Chu, you must not withdraw the lawsuit. You have to let those people know. They keep telling us dirty jokes and patting and touching us on the shoulders. This is unacceptable. It's illegal. We women don't wear pretty skirts to work, not to make it easier for them to take advantage of us."

Ren Yan also supported her unconditionally. He knew Chu Qianmiao harbored regrets, regrets she'd left behind because she couldn't sue Qiao Zhixin, so he wouldn't be sued. He was willing to help her address those regrets.

After Hou Lin sued Ge Hui, the company leaders met with Chu Qianmiao one by one, hoping she could persuade Hou Lin and Ge Hui to reconcile. They said they were all in the same company, and a falling out wouldn't look good, and it wouldn't be good if the news got out.

Chu Qianmiao asked, "So, will Ge Hui apologize?"

The company leaders hesitated, saying Ge Hui had said it was all a misunderstanding.

Chu Qianmiao told Hou Lin to resolutely not withdraw the lawsuit. What she was seeking wasn't just justice for herself, but also the dignity of all the female employees in the company.

Hou Lin resolutely pursued the lawsuit to the end.

Although the process was difficult, the outcome was encouraging: the court ruled in favor of Hou Lin against Ge Hui for sexual harassment.

Ge Hui was dissatisfied and planned to appeal.

By this time, Chu Qianmiao noticed that the atmosphere within the company seemed to have quietly shifted.

The male employees were all denouncing Ge Hui, saying, "It's gotten this far, and you're still going to appeal? It's embarrassing!"

Chu Qianmiao thought that although the lawsuit would continue, she was relieved. The outcome might no longer matter. The current reaction was the biggest gain. They had learned that touching a female employee's hand was shameful.

During work, she saw news online about the "too" anti-sexual assault movement, calling on women who had experienced sexual assault to speak out and draw public attention.

Chu Qianmiao scrolled through the comments, feeling deeply moved.

No longer was the victim-blaming theory of a few years ago, where the lewd man would say, "Who told you your skirt was too short?" Now, countless people were speaking out to protect women's s*xual rights. Countless people were arguing that wearing a short skirt was a woman's right, and that no matter how short a skirt was, it was not a reason for assault.

Chu Qianmiao thought, this change was truly gratifying.

Perhaps the current workplace environment isn't ideal for women yet. Women still need to work harder to advance and face harsher judgment and scrutiny. But she believes this is ultimately a good era, one that gives women opportunities. As long as they possess real talent, they too will have the chance to make a name for themselves.

She firmly believes that the overall workplace environment for women will improve in the future, that workplace sexual harassment will become increasingly recognized, and that female employees will be treated with increasing respect. She is willing to work even harder to create such a workplace environment.

After settling Hou Lin's case, Chu Qianmiao officially submitted her resignation from Litong Securities.

Many tried to persuade her to stay, and many held her hands and cried, expressing their reluctance to let her go.

Aside from Hou Lin, Qin Qianyu cried the most. He grabbed Chu Qianmiao's hand, calling her "sister-in-law," and peppered her with soul-searching questions, "Why are you resigning? Didn't we win the lawsuit? Why are you so stubborn?"

Chu Qianmiao smiled and told him, "No, I've finally resigned because I've finally come to terms with it. I've reached the ceiling in investment banking, and I want to move on to a new world and learn something new."

She'd weathered many storms in investment banking over the past few years, and it was time to step out of the security world and explore a new life.

To celebrate Chu Qianmiao's job change and her new beginnings, Ren Yan learned how to make boiled fish.

That weekend, Ren Yan was planning to make boiled fish for Chu Qianmiao, but coincidentally, Shao Yuan and Gu Miaoyu were craving a cat and came to pet the cat. It was said that Ren Yan wanted to cook fish, and Gu Miaoyu decided without hesitation that she and Shao Yuan would stay for dinner before leaving, regardless of the disdainful glances they exchanged when she said this, as if they were a third wheel.

At first, Chu Qianmiao was playing host in the living room, accompanying Gu Miaoyu and Shao Yuan, playing with their fat cats.

Then Ren Yan summoned her to the kitchen and detained her.

After not seeing Chu Qianmiao return to the living room for a while, Gu Miaoyu consulted with Shao Yuan and ran to the kitchen to see what was going on.

It would have been better if she hadn't seen it, but what she did see was truly shocking.

The two people were shamelessly kissing passionately in the kitchen in broad daylight.

The fish were jumping around in the aquarium, and their kisses were burning with passion.

Gu Miaoyu watched the adult video, angrily thinking, "These two are so dishonest! Who knows when they'll get dinner?"

As she thought this, she fell into Shao Yuan's arms.

Shao Yuan whispered in her ear, "Why don't we go out for dinner and steal Miaomiao away?"

Ren Yan called Chu Qianmiao into the kitchen and asked her to accompany him while he cooked fish.

Chu Qianmiao chatted with him.

She asked Ren Yan, "If you could turn back time, which day would you most like to return to?"

Ren Yan turned off the water faucet, thought for a moment, and said to Chu Qianmiao, "I want to go back to that day studying in the lecture hall. I want to tell myself that day that a young woman will come to answer for her three senior students. No matter what the reason, don't miss her again, because that girl will be your future wife."

Chu Qianmiao smiled, and she even thought it was sweet.

"What about you?" Ren Yan wiped his hands and pulled Chu Qianmiao closer. He leaned against the counter, his arm around her, and asked her.

"I'll go back to the day I sent you a love letter. I'll tell my then-self: no more useless nonsense, no more writing letters and making things up. Just say it directly in person if you like someone."

After she finished, they both laughed.

It turned out they had the same wish: they both wanted to go back and make amends for those years they had wasted on each other.

Even though they couldn't actually go back, it didn't matter. Because they would eventually meet and fall in love again. They were destined to meet and fall in love again.

Ren Yan lowered his head and kissed Chu Qianmiao.

The fish leaped in the aquarium, their kiss burning with passion.

In between breaths, Chu Qianmiao gasped to Ren Yan, "It seemed like two people were spying on us just now. They seemed to have stolen Miaomiao."

Ren Yan's voice was hoarse, and he stroked her cheek with his fingers, whispering, "Thank them for not being a third wheel for us."

He stroked her cheek, his gaze deep into her.

He still remembered the first time he saw her. Her long hair cascaded, her face full of life, she sat in the front seat. Suddenly, she turned, her eyes sparkling as she called him "Senior." That was the first time his heart fluttered.

She met his deeply affectionate gaze.

She also remembered the first time she saw him. She turned toward the back seat, and when he looked up, her eyes lit up. He was so handsome, it made her heart flutter. In time with the pounding of her heart, she called him "Senior."

Years passed, and the image of their first heartbeat remained etched in their hearts, imprinted in every kiss.

They embraced each other, kissing each other passionately.

The setting sun, before completely fading, shone a single, beautiful ray of light, illuminating the entire room with a crimson golden glow. A gentle breeze blew through the window, and the sunset glow streamed in, casting a shimmering light on their intertwined figures. The blazing golden light outlined the passion of love at its most intense.

Senior, do you still remember me?

Yes, of course I do.

Because no matter how time passes, I will always love you as I did at the beginning. I will always love you.

 

~End~