PB - Chapter 14
Chapter 14
It was nothing new for Gu Jianchu to receive rare roses at Rongfang. No matter how beautiful the flowers, they couldn’t seem precious next to her. The situation escalated when Lin Zhi showed up uninvited at noon, only to be turned away by Liu Yanyan for not having an appointment. Then, Gu Mingyi personally came downstairs to escort him up. Instantly, news that Gu Jianchu was entering a marriage alliance exploded throughout Rongfang.
Lin Zhi chatted in Gu Mingyi’s office for over half an hour before finally asking which floor Gu Jianchu was on. He declined Gu Mingyi’s offer to accompany him and took the elevator up alone.
Although it was Liu Yanyan’s first time meeting Lin Zhi, she quickly guessed his identity. She stood up, slightly apologetic. “I’m sorry, sir, but President Gu is in a meeting. It’s not convenient for you to go in.”
Lin Zhi acted like a perfect gentleman. “It is I who have presumptuously disturbed your work. Could you tell me if President Gu has had lunch yet?”
“President Gu has a specially catered lunch.”
“Then may I leave a note for President Gu?”
Liu Yanyan took out a notepad and handed it to him. “Please write it here.”
Lin Zhi uncapped his fountain pen, wrote his message, then folded the note and handed it back to Liu Yanyan. “Thank you for your trouble.” He didn’t linger, taking the elevator down to the ground floor and leaving Rongfang.
Liu Yanyan entered the office to find Gu Jianchu working alone. She placed the note on the desk along with a file. “This is the information I found on Mr. Lin’s family company, Witton. Witton is currently in frequent contact with a chromium mining company in South Africa.”
Gu Jianchu put down her pen and looked up at her. “Chromium ore?”
“Chromium ore is a scarce resource in our country, but it’s a key additive for special types of steel, so demand is very high.”
Gu Jianchu smiled. “No wonder Gu Mingyi brought this Mr. Lin back to the country so suddenly. Go investigate the current operating status of this mining company, as well as its development over the past few years.” Liu Yanyan nodded. “Also, have you bought the books I asked for?”
“The books have been purchased, but it will take a little more time to bind the photocopied notes.”
“Alright. Once they’re ready, deliver them to President Qiao at Ruifeng for me.”
Liu Yanyan paused for a moment. “Yes, President Gu. Is there anything else?”
“You may go.”
After Liu Yanyan left the office, Gu Jianchu finally remembered the note Lin Zhi had left. She opened it to find an invitation to dinner that evening, complete with the restaurant’s address and time. Lin Zhi had taken the initiative, making it difficult for her to either accept or refuse. His gesture, seemingly considerate on the surface, concealed a calculated motive. Her expression was complex, even cold.
Lin Zhi’s style was rather Western, and he showed no intention of adapting to local customs. Dinner was booked at a high-end Western restaurant. At the appointed time, he was waiting downstairs in a sharp suit. When Gu Jianchu’s car pulled up, he stepped forward like a gentleman to open her door and help her out. Gu Jianchu had changed into a dress before coming, and she was dazzlingly beautiful. Lin Zhi was inwardly delighted.
Coincidentally, as they were leaving after dinner, they ran into Qi Simiao and her new boyfriend. Qi Simiao’s gaze flickered between Gu Jianchu and Lin Zhi before she greeted them warmly. After they parted ways, she took out her phone and called Jin Zhilan, regretfully informing her that Gu Jianchu had a new target.
At the end of the dinner, because Gu Jianchu had driven herself, she declined Lin Zhi’s offer to take her home. Before she left, Lin Zhi requested a courtesy hug, which Gu Jianchu did not refuse. Her light fragrance once again captivated him.
The moment Gu Jianchu got in the car, she took off the overcoat she wore over her dress and tossed it onto the passenger seat. After driving all the way home, she threw the coat into the trash. It was a custom-tailored, one-of-a-kind piece, yet she discarded it without a shred of pity.
After showering, she put on a dark green silk robe, tying the belt loosely at her waist. She sat in her study, reviewing the email Liu Yanyan had sent about Witton. She worked until two in the morning, only stopping when a throb in her temples reminded her it was time to rest. She closed her laptop and left the study.
The next day around ten in the morning, Qiao Qi’s phone rang. She answered, and Qi Sitian’s excited voice rushed through the line. “Auntie, I just signed the contract with Green City! It was for three-fifths of the original price. I’m on my way to the airport now. Are you free for dinner tonight?”
“I have a date tonight.” A smile touched the corners of Qiao Qi’s eyes. “Three-fifths of the price, congratulations.”
Qi Sitian suddenly remembered that Gu Jianchu had been the one to suggest that price. She gave a rough account of what had happened at Rongfang the day before. Qiao Qi was slightly surprised. “She coached you?”
“Yes, she told me to be firm during the negotiations and not to back down easily.” Qi Sitian thought for a moment, adding more detail. “She’s quite serious when she’s working. She gave me a lot of advice, so I revised the proposal according to her suggestions before coming to Green City. I didn’t expect things to go so smoothly here.”
“Alright, I understand. We’ll talk more when you get back. I have to get back to work. Be careful on your way.”
“I know, Auntie. I won’t disturb you any longer.”
Qiao Qi put down the phone but couldn’t immediately switch back into work mode as she usually did. She stared into space for a while, thinking about Gu Jianchu. She wondered: did Gu Jianchu take the initiative to teach Qi Sitian because of that phone call she had made? The answer was obvious, yet hard to believe.
A knock came at the door. She collected herself and said, “Come in.”
Yao Qiu walked in, carrying a medium-sized box. “Secretary Liu just dropped this off. She said it’s a gift from President Gu for you.” The box was heavy, and she struggled to place it on Qiao Qi’s desk. “I’ll be heading out now.”
Inside the box were several original-edition books on technology. They were all large volumes. Qiao Qi took them out one by one and opened them. There were five in total, stacked on her desk like heavy bricks. There were also five smaller, exquisitely bound books, each with a title matching one of the larger volumes. She picked one up and flipped it open, a smile filling her eyes.
They were Gu Jianchu’s reading notes. They contained logic maps, personal insights, and excerpts of important passages. The handwriting was elegant and neat. Because they were direct photocopies, even Gu Jianchu’s original corrections and cross-outs were perfectly preserved on the pages. She took out each one and flipped through a few pages, absolutely delighted.
She called Gu Jianchu. The call connected quickly, and Gu Jianchu’s voice held a hint of a smile. “Did you receive them?”
“Thank you.”
“Understanding technology will give you a better grasp of venture capital projects. In Shenzhen, you mentioned Ruifeng’s interest in venture capital several times. I thought about it and picked these few books to send you first.”
Qiao Qi looked at the notes in her hand, her voice soft. “And thank you for being willing to lend me your notes.”
“Besides ‘thank you,’ is there nothing else you want to say to me?”
“Can I treat you to dinner tonight as a thank you for these notes?”
“Tonight was supposed to be my treat, which is a separate matter from you wanting to thank me. How can President Qiao change the plan so arbitrarily?”
Qiao Qi chuckled softly. “In that case, we could choose to offset our debts. It would save us both a lot of trouble.”
Gu Jianchu was surprised to discover Qiao Qi’s playful side. She said, “That won’t do. If President Qiao insists on not honoring our agreement, I might really have to come to Ruifeng to arrest you.” She heard Qiao Qi’s light laughter on the other end of the line. “I’ve already booked the restaurant. I’ll have Yanyan send the details directly to Yao Qiu later. I’ll see you tonight.”
“See you tonight.”
Gu Jianchu had booked a small private kitchen tucked away in a hutong. It had a wooden sign, and the large red lanterns hanging by the door indicated it was open for business. A section of the narrow path was winding, so cars couldn’t drive all the way in. When Qiao Qi arrived, Gu Jianchu was already waiting there. She got out of her car and walked toward her, stepping on the shadows cast by the streetlights.
“Jianchu.”
Qiao Qi wore a white blouse with a long, geometric-patterned scarf tied at the collar, a pencil skirt, and knee-high boots, all under a black overcoat. Carrying her handbag, she called Gu Jianchu’s name softly, her figure graceful and elegant.
Gu Jianchu was momentarily stunned. Because it was nighttime, Qiao Qi didn’t notice. She recovered in an instant. “Let’s go.”
The restaurant’s signature dishes were limited specials; only five servings were made each day, and once they were gone, they were gone. Gu Jianchu had called ahead to reserve them, so Qiao Qi was able to taste the chef’s finest creations. People are drawn to beautiful things, and just then, the exquisite plating also brought the diner a sense of joy.
Gu Jianchu’s eyes were brimming with a smile as she watched Qiao Qi’s every expression. Which dishes she liked a little more, which ones weren’t to her taste—it was all clearly written on the usually composed Qiao Qi’s face. Gu Jianchu discovered that her palate leaned not only toward light flavors but also toward vegetarian food, and she preferred river fish over seafood.
“You seem to really like this Longjing shrimp.”
“When I was little, my grandfather’s specialty was stir-fried shrimp. Not because his cooking skills were that great, but because it was the simplest and prettiest dish to make. Over time, I developed a preference for it.”
In truth, while the method for making Longjing shrimp was simple, the ingredients were particular. It was a seasonal dish, and only shrimp stir-fried with Longjing tea leaves picked before the Qingming Festival could be considered authentic. And right now was the time for the first harvest of Longjing tea.
Gu Jianchu rested her chin on one hand and asked her, “What else?”
Qiao Qi was puzzled. “What?”
A smile played on Gu Jianchu’s lips. “Your preferences.”
Qiao Qi paused. “I don’t have any particular preferences.” Even with the shrimp she favored, she had only taken a couple of extra bites; it hardly qualified as a preference.
“I can see that.” Gu Jianchu switched hands. “If I had to name something you like, I’d guess red wine. But I don’t plan on serving you any alcohol with this meal tonight.” Seeing Qiao Qi’s confusion, she added, “Because your Secretary Yao specifically had Yanyan relay to me that you haven’t fully recovered and can’t drink tonight.”
Qiao Qi was resigned. “Xiao Qiu worries about me a lot.”
“Everyone around you cares about you a lot. The other day when President Qi was in my office, she became very wary the moment I mentioned your name. But why is she afraid of me? It’s no wonder you called me in advance.”
“Sitian lacks a sense of security, so she’s a bit guarded. If she offended you in any way, I apologize on her behalf.”
Gu Jianchu was both amused and exasperated. “Qiao Qi, do you talk to Su Jiayin like this too? I brought up President Qi because I found her interesting, not because I wanted to hear you apologize to me.”
When she was serious, Gu Jianchu was even more captivating, even more vibrant than when she smiled. Qiao Qi remembered how Qi Sitian had described Gu Jianchu’s beauty as dangerous. But people are drawn to beautiful things, and so the usually distant Qiao Qi softened.
A smile touched her eyes. “Then can you give me some time to slowly get used to it? But, I still have to thank you for what you did for Sitian.”
Qiao Qi’s questioning tone, her gentle attitude, and the smile in her eyes all made Gu Jianchu want to do something. But in the end, she simply said, “Let her thank me herself.”
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