PB - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
For the Lunar New Year, Qiao Qi flew to her parents’ side as usual to celebrate with her family, but she would rush back during the day on New Year’s Day to have the first meal of the year with Old Master Jin. Seeing her go through this trouble for several years, the old master actually had the idea of bringing Qiao Qi’s parents over this year. Unexpectedly, it was Qiao Qi who refused.
“You’re not strong enough for all that travel back and forth.”
“They’re doing very well over there.”
The old master knew Qiao Qi’s attitude on this matter was firm. So what if they came? She wouldn’t have to travel, but would that just mean two more people brought to your door to suffer the Jin family’s disdain?
The old master conceded. “How about this? Don’t you have a few properties outside? You can have them move there to live long-term. That way, you can see them often and save yourself the trouble of traveling back and forth for the New Year.”
“I don’t find it troublesome.”
The old master felt like the words were caught in his throat. He could only glare at her. “I’m doing this for your own good, and you resent me for it. Hurry back and celebrate the New Year. Remember to be back on time on New Year’s Day.”
Deep down, she had her own selfish reasons for not letting her parents move from the house where they had grown up. Only by returning there could she find a moment of peace. Even her mother’s indirect nagging about marriage and her father’s plans for her future made her feel at ease. And then there was her maternal grandfather. Though old, he was stubborn. There were two things he said to her most often, which he still brought up frequently.
One was, “She’s taking the old Qiao family name, so we have to be the ones to give her a first name. We can’t let their family have all the benefits.” The other was, “The wonderful child our family worked so hard to raise, only for the Jins to reap all the benefits in the end.” Her grandfather had doted on her ever since she was little.
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, everyone in the family knew Qiao Qi had to rush back. Her grandfather gave her a thick red envelope. A smile touched the corners of her eyes as she accepted it and hugged the old man. “Grandpa, Happy New Year.”
Qiao Qi endured the long journey back to have the first meal of New Year’s Day with Old Master Jin. She didn’t return particularly early, but the Jin family had to wait for her. Old Master Jin could see that she was in a good mood after coming back. He felt a bit sour inside, but he still said, “Go upstairs and rest after you eat.”
“Okay.”
“This is your New Year’s money.”
The old master’s red envelope was also a thick stack. Qiao Qi was slightly taken aback. The Jin family didn’t seem to have a tradition of giving New Year’s money. This was the first time the old master had given her any.
She took the envelope, paused for a moment, and said, “Happy New Year.”
Hearing this made the old master very happy, and he replied, “Grandpa wishes you a Happy New Year, too.”
Qiao Qi’s vacation was short. While most of the group was still enjoying the holiday, she was already back in her office planning her trip to Shenzhen for the following month. Xu Yangpu also returned to the company on her second day of work, while Yao Qiu would wait until the end of the holiday, as per Qiao Qi’s request. This meant Qiao Qi’s workload for these few days would be much heavier than usual.
In the office, Qiao Qi said to Xu Yangpu, “If you don’t stay home for the New Year, your family will complain that I’m not a good boss.”
“They know you’re a good boss.” Xu Yangpu changed the subject. “I’ve already confirmed the time with the Shenzhen branch. The flight is booked for the fifth of next month. Also, here is the new proposal.”
“Good.”
Xu Yangpu continued, “I heard that Rongfang’s President Gu is also planning to head to Shenzhen.”
Qiao Qi wasn’t surprised. “Her thinking has always been clear, and her insight is sharp. Anything I can think of, she certainly will too.”
“I’ve analyzed her investment trends over the past two years.” Xu Yangpu handed over another file. “Within her overall investment portfolio, venture capital is a noteworthy area of growth.”
“Good. Thank you for your hard work.”
“President Qiao, have you eaten?”
“Not yet.” She glanced at the time on her desk. “The cafeteria isn’t open yet. Go eat out and get it reimbursed.”
“No need for the trouble. Is there anything President Qiao would like to eat?”
Qiao Qi thought for a moment. “Something light. Anything else is fine.”
After Xu Yangpu left, Qiao Qi’s gaze lingered on the file about Gu Jianchu. She picked it up and began to read. Xu Yangpu had been so meticulous as to put Gu Jianchu’s personal information on the first page. Gu Jianchu had just celebrated her twenty-ninth birthday, making her three years younger than herself. Qiao Qi thought of Gu Jianchu’s beautiful face, a beauty that even she couldn’t help but admire.
“President Gu.” Liu Yanyan pushed the door halfway open. “It’s time for the meeting.”
Gu Jianchu snapped back from her work, pinching the bridge of her nose. She had her hair in a ponytail today, her slender, jade-like neck on full display. Due to her birthday, she hadn’t had enough rest for several days in a row, and right at this moment, her uncle was calling frequent meetings. A wave of irritation washed over her, and she kneaded the bridge of her nose forcefully to suppress her emotions.
“President Gu.” Liu Yanyan watched her closely. “You’re making it red.”
Gu Jianchu dropped her hand and checked in a mirror. “Did they say what’s on the agenda for today?”
“They said it’s still about the Shenzhen project.”
“I already told him he doesn’t need to manage this. Why does he have to bother me for no good reason? Is Zhao Bo free? Tell him I’m not feeling well and have him sit in for me. Besides me, he knows the most about the Shenzhen project.”
“Okay, I’ll contact Manager Zhao right away.”
Gu Jianchu was exceptionally tired today and had no mind for work. She called the clubhouse to have a medicinal soup prepared, then left the office and drove over. North Courtyard was her private sanctuary, exclusively for her use. Besides Su Jiayin, who could occasionally drop in, no one else had access.
In the center of North Courtyard’s largest room was an embedded circular pool. The center of the ceiling was fitted with a one-way mirror. Gu Jianchu pressed a remote to open the sunshade, and sunlight fell uninhibitedly upon her. She closed her eyes lightly and rested against the pool’s edge. Once she had soaked long enough, she emerged from the water and wrapped herself in a light, silky bathrobe. She selected a new bottle of wine from the cabinet and enjoyed it alone.
At a little past five, Zhao Bo called to say that the date for the flight to Shenzhen had been preliminarily set and was waiting for her final approval when she returned to the company tomorrow. Gu Jianchu told him to arrange everything and that he didn’t need her approval anymore.
Everyone’s life was proceeding in an orderly fashion, without any major waves or devastating blows. Ruifeng and Rongfang, the two leading domestic enterprises, had both recently focused their attention on Shenzhen.
Gu Jianchu’s private jet landed on the tarmac. As she descended the stairs, Shen Shoucheng, who was there to meet her, stepped forward to welcome her. “Welcome to Shenzhen, President Gu.”
“Thank you for coming to pick me up personally, Miss Shen.” Gu Jianchu noticed the change in Shen Shoucheng at a glance. Compared to a few months ago, she had shed much of her post-collegiate naivety.
Shen Shoucheng said with a hint of apology, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to personally escort you back to the hotel.” Seeing the other woman’s questioning look, she explained, “President Qiao from Ruifeng’s flight is landing in ten minutes. As Changfa’s representative, I need to wait a little longer.”
“Miss Shen, there’s no need to trouble yourself. I can wait here for President Qiao, and we can go to the hotel together.” Gu Jianchu looked up. A passenger plane was descending at a low speed in the sky above the airport. She and Qiao Qi truly had some fate, arriving at the same place at the same time.
Shen Shoucheng hesitated but ultimately agreed. A few minutes later, her assistant whispered something in her ear. The people at Changfa had assumed Qiao Qi would arrive by private jet like Gu Jianchu, but they hadn’t expected her to take a commercial flight. Shen Shoucheng hadn’t double-checked her subordinates’ arrangements, which meant they now had to hurry back to the terminal to meet her.
As they spoke, the car had already pulled up. Although Shen Shoucheng didn’t blame her assistant, her movements were still a bit rushed as she opened the car door. Seemingly remembering Gu Jianchu was still there, she paused and turned back. “President Gu, I apologize. We’ve had a bit of a problem with our arrangements. I’ll have them take you to the hotel first. If there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, please let me know directly.”
“Please don’t be so formal, Miss Shen. I’ll see you later.”
When Shen Shoucheng returned to the terminal, Qiao Qi’s group was already waiting there. From a distance, she saw Qiao Qi’s slender, straight profile as she listened to a phone call, and her mood instantly brightened.
Today, Qiao Qi was wearing a pair of black trousers that revealed her ankles, a V-neck blouse with a white base and blue vine pattern, and a light-colored silk trench coat. Apart from a limited-edition watch on her wrist, she wore no other accessories. Even such a simple outfit was the most beautiful sight in the world to Shen Shoucheng.
With her subordinates present, Shen Shoucheng spoke politely, “President Qiao, welcome.”
A smile touched Qiao Qi’s brow as she studied her carefully. Her voice was gentle when she spoke. “It’s been a while. Shoucheng seems to have grown up.”
The intimacy in Qiao Qi’s words made Shen Shoucheng even more delighted. “President Gu from Rongfang arrived ten minutes before you and has already gone back to the hotel to rest. President Qiao, you must be tired from your journey, so we’ll take you to the hotel first as well. We’ll hold a welcome dinner for you all this evening.”
“Okay, we’ll follow Miss Shen’s arrangements.”
Shen Shoucheng blushed slightly and walked out of the terminal side-by-side with Qiao Qi, only leaving after escorting her all the way to her room. The two suites Qiao Qi and Gu Jianchu were staying in were opposite each other, occupying the entire twentieth floor of the hotel. The female secretaries’ rooms were also arranged inside, while the men were accommodated elsewhere.
When Qiao Qi entered her room, Gu Jianchu was lying on a sofa on the terrace, enjoying the sea breeze. The floor was high up in the hotel, offering an expansive view of the ocean from the terrace, which also featured an infinity pool. In the room’s temperature-controlled wine cabinet was a selection of red wines prepared in advance by Shen Shoucheng. Because she wasn’t familiar with Gu Jianchu’s preferences, she had prepared a very comprehensive variety.
But in Qiao Qi’s room, the wine cabinet was neatly filled with various kinds of milk. Yao Qiu stood before the cabinet door, suppressing a laugh, while Qiao Qi looked on helplessly. How could they guard against her as if she were some kind of drunkard? She did enjoy a little red wine, but that was because a certain amount of alcohol brought a sense of relaxed pleasure, and she knew her limits and wouldn’t let herself get drunk. These people were getting more and more annoying.
“Does President Qiao need to rest first?”
“Go find Yangpu and get a clear idea of Shoucheng’s schedule for the next few days. I’m going to take a bath first.”
“Alright.” Yao Qiu went to the bathroom first to adjust the water temperature. It was on the hotter side, just how Qiao Qi liked it. Only when the tub was nearly full did she come out. “President Qiao, it’s ready.”
Qiao Qi lay in the bathtub, her fair skin flushed red from the water’s heat. The thought of Gu Jianchu swirled in her mind. When she had learned from Yangpu that Gu Jianchu was also planning to come to Shenzhen, she had prepared an alternative plan in her mind. In the coming days, during her interactions with Gu Jianchu, she would seriously consider whether to promote this plan to her primary one.
That evening, the welcome dinner arranged by Shen Shoucheng was held on a yacht out at sea. Among the younger generation of the Shen family, besides Shoucheng and Shouxin, whom she had met before, there was also a shy young man, their younger brother, named Shen Liyan.
So his name was Liyan. When Qiao Qi had heard the names of the two Shen daughters, she had wondered if a third child in the Shen family would be named Shen Shoushi. Now she knew there was indeed a third child, but she had guessed the name wrong.
At dinner, there was a specialty dish of sliced fish congee in a clay pot, which was very much to Qiao Qi’s liking. She unknowingly ate two bowls. Although she spoke little, her presence was impossible to ignore, so nearly everyone present noticed her fondness for the fish congee.
Gu Jianchu found this side of her rather endearing. Qiao Qi’s preferences were frank and natural. There was a hint of a smile in her expression as she ate the congee, something she herself might not have even been aware of. Gu Jianchu had a very good impression of Qiao Qi. The woman maintained a perfect sense of distance—neither overly warm nor distant—and the gentleness in her personality subtly masked her aloofness.
She was very willing to be friends with Qiao Qi. Since they were sitting next to each other, it was convenient to talk. “Miss Shen has arranged for sea bathing tomorrow. Will President Qiao be going?”
“I’ll follow Shoucheng’s arrangements.” Eating good food always put Qiao Qi in a good mood. A smile touched her brow. “President Gu, since we’re both friends with Jiayin, you don’t have to call me President Qiao anymore.”
Gu Jianchu sensed her good mood, and a smile curved her lips. “Alright. Then you shouldn’t call me President Gu either. Jiayin calls me Jianchu.”
Gu Jianchu’s easy compliance put Qiao Qi in a difficult position. She was rather reluctant to say the name Su Jiayin used for her; it was a bit too intimate. But at this moment, Gu Jianchu was waiting for her answer, so she said, “You can just call me Qiao Qi.”
Gu Jianchu’s lips parted slightly, and a soft “Qiao Qi” immediately escaped, drifting into Qiao Qi’s ear with her unique cadence. Gu Jianchu’s beautiful face was so close, and her voice, along with her scent, was full of temptation. Qiao Qi was momentarily stunned and instinctively drew back a little, but her gaze didn’t waver.
Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Gu Jianchu also subtly increased the distance between them, not pushing further. She just wanted to know how much of Su Jiayin’s repeated warnings was exaggeration. The Qiao Qi before her was perfectly composed, showing no trace of the person Su Jiayin had described.
“Qiao Qi is a very nice name.”
“My grandfather gave it to me.”
“Is there a story behind it?”
“It’s from the line ‘Scouring the cold branches, refusing to perch.’ (拣尽寒枝不肯栖，寂寞沙洲冷 - Jiǎn jìn hán zhī bù kěn qī, jìmò shāzhōu lěng)”
“Is the next line ‘lonely on the cold sandbar’?” Gu Jianchu’s response was seamless. The smile returned to Qiao Qi’s brow, and she smiled back.
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