SCHS - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
That large bouquet of fiery red roses was specially delivered to the Vice President's office, right in front of everyone in the secretarial office and Wen Shixue. Everyone understood the meaning of red roses and exchanged knowing, gossipy looks. But because they all knew Vice President Qin's personality, no one dared to go in and ask her directly; they only dared to secretly enjoy the drama.
Wen Shixue was just about to return to her office when she ran into someone delivering flowers to Qin Zhen. Such a huge bouquet of roses—even she, dense as she was, could understand what it meant.
Someone was pursuing Qin Zhen.
As someone who lived at Qin Zhen's place and was with her almost every day, she couldn't for the life of her figure out where Qin Zhen had suddenly sprouted this romantic interest. Even stranger, she felt a peculiar, uncomfortable twist in her heart. She wasn't sure if it was because she felt Qin Zhen had found a girlfriend without telling her, or because someone was pursuing Qin Zhen...
But someone pursuing Qin Zhen was a good thing; it meant the other person saw Qin Zhen's worth and thought she was worth pursuing. If someone else also thought Qin Zhen was good, then why was she uncomfortable? Could it be that she had become petty and couldn't stand to see Qin Zhen doing well?
She stood there pondering for a moment. Her intuition told her that this bouquet wasn't sent by someone from Chenfeng, so it must be because the sender wasn't from Chenfeng that she felt uncomfortable due to a sense of rivalry—yes, that must be it! She hadn't become petty, nor could she not stand to see Qin Zhen doing well!
As a friend and a boss who loved gossip, she wouldn't miss any opportunity to question Qin Zhen. She immediately walked towards her office.
The secretaries watched her approach Qin Zhen's office from behind the glass door. They weren't sure if it was just their imagination—why did President Wen seem a bit aggressive? Like someone going to confront their boyfriend.
But those flowers... who could have sent them?
...
"Young Master Zhang sent them," Qin Zhen replied.
The roses were placed on the coffee table, with a delicate little card beside them. The sender's name, "Zhang Tianhao," was clearly written on it, along with a note saying he was waiting downstairs for her.
Wen Shixue didn't know why, but as soon as she heard it was Zhang Tianhao, she immediately felt relieved. The previous awkward discomfort vanished like smoke—oh, it's a man, then it's fine. My Lao Qin doesn't like men.
She didn't have to worry about Qin Zhen being snatched away, but she still felt unhappy.
That Zhang Tianhao, he provoked her just yesterday, and now he's coveting her Lao Qin?!
He's dreaming!
She didn't like Zhang Tianhao, and even looking at that bouquet of roses felt particularly jarring. If it were her, she'd shove the flowers directly into the trash can and return both the flowers and the trash can to Zhang Tianhao to show him what she thought.
But Qin Zhen wasn't her, and she definitely wouldn't do that.
She crossed her arms and asked, "Are you going to keep these flowers?"
Qin Zhen shook her head, stood up, and put on her dark purple suit jacket, her slender fingers slowly buttoning it up. She turned her head slightly, and the bright daylight brushed against her shoulder, illuminating her fair face. Her smooth dark hair was gathered in the light, as if dusted with sparkling gold powder.
Wen Shixue watched her without blinking, momentarily lost in thought, imagining her as a goddess walking out of the light, high above, stunningly beautiful and untouchable.
"I'll return them myself," Qin Zhen meticulously buttoned the last button, her voice calm and even. "To make things clear with Young Master Zhang."
She didn't like men, nor did she like being pursued. For things that were impossible, it was best to stop before going too far and turn back early. Moreover, this was someone her Little Demon King disliked. She knew better than anyone how to draw a clear line.
As soon as she finished speaking, she looked up and found that Wen Shixue had suddenly taken a few steps closer to her at some point, staring intently at her, which made her pause.
Wen Shixue tilted her head, still observing her, then suddenly extended her hand.
Qin Zhen was puzzled, then saw Wen Shixue's fair fingertips gently beckon, as if signaling for something. She thought for a moment and uncertainly placed her hand out, and as soon as she did, Wen Shixue grabbed it tightly.
Wen Shixue's hand was a little cool, with long, slender fingers and distinct joints, beautiful and perfect, no less so than anyone else's. Qin Zhen felt that the words "not perfect" had nothing to do with Wen Shixue, because Wen Shixue was born perfect, incomparable to anyone.
Wen Shixue held that beautiful hand, and after feeling the real, tangible touch, a satisfied smile bloomed in her eyes.
Observe from afar? No, she insisted on getting close.
She didn't want to be one of the general public in Qin Zhen's heart; she wanted to be the special, separate category "Wen Shixue" in Qin Zhen's heart.
Qin Zhen was completely bewildered. Seeing her smile, she couldn't help but ask softly, "What's wrong?"
Wen Shixue held her hand and answered very directly, "You look especially beautiful standing in the light, like an untouchable goddess from the heavens, seeming very, very far away from me. So I'm pulling you back to my side."
Qin Zhen was instantly speechless, her earlobes quietly flushing a faint red. Having lived for so many years, this was the first time she had heard someone praise her like this; it was too unfamiliar...
Embarrassed Vice President Qin: Is this how young people praise others nowadays?
Wen Shixue was always direct. Qin Zhen sometimes wondered if the reason she felt her heart flutter was because Wen Shixue's directness was too sincere to refuse... Even a thousand-year-old ancient tree might be charmed into blooming by her.
"Don't overthink it," Qin Zhen withdrew her hand and gently stroked Wen Shixue's head. "I'm just an ordinary person."
Not a high and mighty goddess, but an ordinary person who will always be by your side.
Wen Shixue corrected her, "You're an extraordinary Vice President Qin, beautiful in every way." She added, "But why would that bastard Zhang Tianhao suddenly pursue you? Doesn't he like cute and quiet-looking girls?"
Zhang Tianhao had used Wen Shixue as an example back then because Wen Shixue had a pretty face. When she wasn't talking, she did look somewhat quiet and elegant, strictly speaking, belonging to the "picture for reference only" category— outwardly quiet, but actually a world-destroying Little Demon King.
But Qin Zhen truly had nothing to do with the words "cute and quiet-looking." From head to toe, she exuded a mature and steady aura, far removed from the type Zhang Tianhao liked.
Wen Shixue mused to herself, then exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that he's trying to poach you using this method?" Then she turned around aggressively, ready to go back and get her "Convince by Virtue" bat. "Then I absolutely must teach this punk a lesson!"
Trying to poach her Lao Qin? He can dream on!
Of course, Qin Zhen couldn't let her go hit someone. She quickly grabbed her hand. "I can handle it."
Wen Shixue turned back to look at her. Qin Zhen said, "Don't worry."
She was a grown woman; was she afraid of dealing with a little kid?
...
Zhang Tianhao wore sunglasses and sat coolly in his new car for a long time before Qin Zhen finally came downstairs. She was holding the bouquet of roses he had sent, wearing a crisp women's suit that made her figure appear even more slender and elegant.
Qin Zhen calmly watched Zhang Tianhao swagger towards her, every inch of him screaming "immature."
Zhang Tianhao stopped in front of her and adjusted his collar. "Miss Qin."
Qin Zhen held the flowers and replied calmly, "Young Master Zhang."
Zhang Tianhao was like a flashy peacock, puffing up his feathers in front of Qin Zhen to attract her attention. "You don't need to call me Young Master Zhang, it's too distant. Just call me Tianhao. I believe Miss Qin is a smart person and understands the meaning of me sending flowers."
"How about it? Want to consider dating me? I guarantee, if you're with me, your life will be comfortable and easy. You won't have to work this crappy job every day and put up with Wen Shixue's moods."
Wen Shixue, leaning against the wall and eavesdropping, narrowed her eyes. Her fists were practically hardening.
Some people seem alive, but are actually already dead!
Qin Zhen got straight to the point. "Young Master Zhang, do you just want to date me, or are you trying to help your father poach talent?"
Zhang Tianhao said, "Of course it's because I'm interested in you. My dad doesn't need me to help him poach talent."
"What do you like about me?" Qin Zhen asked.
"Your aura, and your face," Zhang Tianhao answered without hesitation. "I thought about it carefully these past few days and realized that mature women like you are actually quite attractive. I wanted to try something different. How about it, will you agree to be my girlfriend?"
Qin Zhen's expression didn't change as she handed the flowers back to Zhang Tianhao, leaving him incredulous. "What does this mean?"
Someone could actually refuse a life without financial worries?!
Qin Zhen said calmly, "Thank you for your kind offer, Young Master Zhang, but I don't need it. I'm very satisfied with my current life and happy to work under President Wen. Most importantly, I don't like you, and I won't date you."
"Thank you for coming all this way, Young Master Zhang. Please leave."
Zhang Tianhao wasn't having it. He didn't come all this way just to be rejected. "Leave? Did I come all this way just to hear you reject me?"
Qin Zhen replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "You could say so, yes."
She had been around long enough not to be afraid of this little brat Zhang Tianhao.
Zhang Tianhao choked, not expecting her to be so blunt!
Wen Shixue, listening in, just wanted to step out and applaud, cheering for Qin Zhen.
Wen Shixue: Yes, yes, that's the spirit, hit him harder!
Zhang Tianhao was unconvinced. "You haven't even gotten to know me, how can you say you don't like me? I, Young Master, don't accept this rejection."
"No need to get to know you," Qin Zhen said calmly. "Because I have someone I like."
As her words fell, not only Zhang Tianhao but also Wen Shixue was stunned.
Qin Zhen had someone she liked?
Qin Zhen actually had someone she liked?!
A complex emotion surged in her heart, a mix of curiosity and disappointment, laced with an unknown sourness that instantly killed her interest. Suddenly, this whole scene wasn't entertaining at all.
Qin Zhen had someone she liked... Who could it be?
To extinguish someone's hope, you must show them there is no possibility. Qin Zhen said seriously, "I like them very much. No one can compare to them."
She had originally intended to tell Zhang Tianhao that she liked women to make him completely give up, but on second thought, that was risky. Zhang Tianhao wasn't someone to be trusted. If she came out to him, he might spread it everywhere, and it could eventually reach Wen Lianchang and his wife, letting them know about it too.
She wasn't ready for them to know her sexual orientation, didn't have the courage to face their reaction, and even more, didn't want to be transferred away from Wen Shixue's side because of it. So she couldn't take that risk and simply used this reason.
Zhang Tianhao stared intently into her eyes, finding no trace of a lie. Moreover, he had heard from his dad that Qin Zhen was a very upright person; she shouldn't make up a reason just to reject him... Right?
Zhang Tianhao scratched his head, troubled about whether to believe her or not. "You're not lying to me, are you? Who is it? Tell me a name!"
"You've met them," Qin Zhen said without changing her expression.
Wen Shixue's ears immediately perked up. Suddenly, she was interested again. She could miss anything else, but not this!
Zhang Tianhao: "???"
Zhang Tianhao looked bewildered. "I've met them? When did I meet them, and where?"
"Yesterday," Qin Zhen said. "Right here at Chenfeng."
Zhang Tianhao thought back. Yesterday, his dad had dragged him by the collar to Chenfeng to apologize. Who had he met?
He had met Wen Shixue, met Wen Shixue's third aunt, glanced at the people in the secretarial office, and on the way back, he had seen people from several departments... He couldn't even count them on two hands!
Damn it! Qin Zhen was playing guessing games with him!
Zhang Tianhao said irritably, "Crap! I met so many people at Chenfeng yesterday, how the hell am I supposed to know which one you're talking about!"
Qin Zhen smiled calmly. "I've said what I needed to say. The rest is personal privacy, which Young Master Zhang has no right to inquire about."
Of course, she knew he had met many people at Chenfeng yesterday. That's precisely why she dared to say that; it was easy to fool a child.
Zhang Tianhao was indeed bluffed by her, his intelligence severely overtaxed, leaving him completely confused for a moment.
Wen Shixue was also guessing who it could be, even wanting to rush out and pin Zhang Tianhao to the ground, making him draw out everyone he had seen yesterday. She didn't know why, but she just wanted to know who Qin Zhen liked, what kind of person would catch Qin Zhen's eye.
The sound of high heels clicking on the floor echoed, steady and composed. She knew Qin Zhen was coming back, but after a few steps, the sound suddenly stopped and then moved outwards again.
She cautiously poked out her puzzled head and saw Qin Zhen's upright back standing in the daylight. Compared to her, Zhang Tianhao looked even smaller and insignificant.
She heard Qin Zhen speak to Zhang Tianhao in an extremely serious tone. "Young Master Zhang, you have two misconceptions that I need to correct."
Zhang Tianhao, looking completely bewildered: "?"
What misconceptions?
Qin Zhen looked at him. "First, our President Wen has a very good and very cute personality."
Wen Shixue was taken aback.
Qin Zhen: "Second, she is very smart, and no one can compare to her."
Looking at the spoiled young master before her, a coldness slowly surfaced in Qin Zhen's eyes. "I hope Young Master Zhang can dispel his misunderstandings about our President Wen and keep his word to be cautious in his speech and actions. If there's a next time..."
"...it won't be resolved with just an apology."
People who had achieved their current success were definitely not pushovers, not to mention that the massive Wen Group stood behind her.
Zhang Tianhao's scalp tingled, and he instinctively took two steps back, feeling a chill down the back of his neck.
Seeing his reaction, Qin Zhen knew he had taken her words to heart. She turned around calmly. Sometimes, sharp words were far more effective than speaking nicely.
Then she spotted a little squirrel eavesdropping. The little squirrel seemed to be hiding something behind her and was looking at her with wide, innocent eyes. She sighed helplessly in her heart and held out her hand. "The bat."
Wen Shixue smiled slightly at her and obediently handed over the "Convince by Virtue."
Zhang Tianhao watched Wen Shixue appear, and then watched her pull out a baseball bat, and he was completely dumbfounded. "???"
You came, fine, but why did you bring a bat???
If you'd like to read ahead and support me, you can request extra chapters or get the complete book as an EPUB on my Ko-fi shop.
Comments
Post a Comment