PB - Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Qiao Qi stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass in the living room. The coffee in her hand had gone cold. As predicted by the weather forecast, the rain had been falling for three consecutive days. Without her glasses, she couldn’t make out the ripples on the distant lake’s surface, stirred by the downpour. Perhaps she wasn’t really looking at all, just habitually standing by the window, lost in thought.
Gu Jianchu approached with light steps, intentionally not wanting to startle her from her reverie. But the action of being embraced from behind made Qiao Qi stiffen involuntarily. She leaned back slightly, the familiar scent filling her senses, and her nerves gradually relaxed. The water stains on the glass before her were the only thing she could see clearly.
She always asked her, “What are you thinking about?”
And her answer was always the same, “Nothing.”
Gu Jianchu knew this was just an excuse and didn’t press further. “I didn’t see you when I woke up. Why are you up so early?”
Qiao Qi had a dream. Although she couldn’t remember anything upon waking, the low spirits that followed left her with no desire to sleep. Unable to fall back asleep, she had gotten up to work, only to be captivated by the heavy rain outside and end up standing here, lost in thought.
“I couldn’t sleep, so I got up. What do you want for breakfast?”
Gu Jianchu chuckled. “That depends on what you’re making for me today.” She turned the woman in her arms to face her and tidied a stray lock of hair at her temple. “Or what I’m making for you.”
Qiao Qi placed the cold coffee in Gu Jianchu’s hand and said with a smile, “Then I’ll have to trouble you to make me a new cup of coffee first.” Gu Jianchu raised an eyebrow at Qiao Qi’s directness but accepted it readily. In the kitchen, Gu Jianchu didn’t whip up any surprisingly complex breakfast; it was just that today’s toast and milk were prepared by someone else.
In the living room, Ping An, sensing the change in atmosphere, circled around Qiao Qi’s legs. Qiao Qi picked him up and stroked him a couple of times before he jumped down again. He ambled lazily to the floor-to-ceiling window and lay down right against the glass. Watching this, Gu Jianchu felt that Ping An’s affection was merely a matter of routine, born from the fact that his life depended on Qiao Qi’s care.
During breakfast, Gu Jianchu asked Qiao Qi, “Why did you name him Ping An?”
“I just hope that I can be safe and sound.”
A seemingly casual name held a profound wish. It was simple and easy to remember. The rain outside showed signs of intensifying. Fortunately, it was the weekend, so staying home was perfectly justifiable. After breakfast, Qiao Qi put the dishes in the dishwasher. When she came out of the kitchen, she saw Gu Jianchu holding up a book and asking, “Want to have a morning read together?”
It wasn’t that they had a habit of reading, but when they were together, they didn’t want to spend their time on work. Besides, they already spent far too much time on it. It was better to quietly pass the time together or simply savor the sweetness in the air.
It was now eight o’clock on a Saturday morning. Heavy rain, smooth city traffic, and a fitting pop song playing on the radio—everything was as usual. The two women found a comfortable position on the sofa. Ping An glanced at the sofa, stood up, stretched lazily, and then leaped gracefully onto it, settling down again between them.
Whenever Gu Jianchu’s gaze occasionally shifted to Qiao Qi, Qiao Qi would always seem to sense it and look back. After this happened twice, Gu Jianchu could no longer withstand Qiao Qi’s gaze, as gentle as water. She moved closer, capturing Qiao Qi’s breath in her mouth. Qiao Qi’s soft lips were just like the gummy candies she had loved as a child, always making her uncontrollably want another taste. Gu Jianchu’s breath was scorching, burning hotter and hotter, while Qiao Qi’s eyes deepened, churning like waves crashing against the shore.
Outside, a downpour; inside, a scene of intimate beauty. At some point, Qiao Qi’s shirt, along with the book, had been tossed onto the floor. At some point, Ping An had returned to his little bed, sleeping soundly, deaf to the world. The two phones on the coffee table rang one after another, but the two people on the sofa were in no position to answer.
When Liu Yanyan’s call came through again, Qiao Qi was in the bathroom showering. Gu Jianchu answered, only then noticing the many missed calls she had ignored. She spoke, her voice unusually low and hoarse, “What is it?”
“U.E. has notified us that the collaboration has been changed to a competitive bid again. The deadline has been postponed, they say to give both companies more time to prepare. Hank couldn’t reach you, so he called me. He told us to be ready and that he’ll continue to negotiate.”
“When?”
“The Monday after next.”
“I understand.”
Gu Jianchu hung up just as Qiao Qi was coming downstairs, a phone in her hand as if she had also just ended a call. Qiao Qi wasn’t surprised by U.E.’s fickleness. In her previous conversations with Thomas, she had sensed resistance from Hank. Moreover, Xu Yangpu had told her over the phone that although it was a bid, only Ruifeng and Rongfang had actually been notified.
Qiao Qi sat down next to Gu Jianchu, the fresh scent of her shower filling the air. The two books that had been discarded in the heat of the moment were now picked up and placed on the coffee table. She spoke without pretense, “Going back to the office?”
The two people who had been intimately entwined just moments ago were now competitors again in the blink of an eye. Gu Jianchu adapted to the change in roles quickly. “Perfect. We can go out for lunch together.”
“Alright, I’ll tell Yao Qiu not to come pick me up.”
After lunch, Gu Jianchu drove Qiao Qi to Ruifeng first before returning to Rongfang alone. The teams from both companies involved in the bid threw all their energy into it. Only Zhao Xiangqian was playing a double game. He reported every detail of Qiao Qi’s daily meetings—what was discussed, whom she met, and what adjustments were made—to Jin Zhihuan.
As the negotiation date approached, Jin Zhihuan was no longer indecisive. He had Zhao Xiangqian select some useful information and leak it to Qi Er, and by extension, Qi Simiao. Out of caution, he only gave verbal instructions. These past few days, Jin Zhilan’s excitement had become increasingly obvious. At breakfast, even her aunt couldn’t help but ask if something good was about to happen.
Jin Zhilan feigned mystery and said, “Guess.”
Seeing her in a good mood, her aunt also beamed. Old Master Jin didn’t pause his meal as he asked Jin Zhilan, “You’ve been going to the company frequently lately. Have you decided which department you want to join?”
Jin Zhilan grew flustered for no apparent reason and quickly said, “Not yet. I’ll tell you when I’ve decided, Grandpa.” She and her siblings had always been afraid of their grandfather’s interrogations since they were young. The best way to handle it was to find an excuse to escape. “Grandpa, I have an appointment this morning, so I’ll be going.” Old Master Jin glanced up at her and nodded, giving her leave. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Jin Zhilan left the house and started driving aimlessly. Partway through, she called Qi Simiao. At that moment, Qi Simiao was on her way to Rongfang, her voice filled with unconcealed excitement and a cheerful tone.
After chatting about her fantasies involving Gu Jianchu, she asked, “Failing to secure one project isn’t a capital offense. How is your uncle going to kick Qiao Qi out of Ruifeng?”
Jin Zhilan feigned mystery. “You don’t need to worry about that. As long as you can persuade Gu Jianchu, my brother has his ways.”
Qi Simiao said smugly, “Don’t worry, Auntie. Jianchu is in a dilemma right now. She doesn’t have any better options.”
This time, Qi Simiao’s request to see Gu Jianchu was not rejected. She was shown into a meeting room. By the time Gu Jianchu arrived after finishing her meeting with the marketing department, half an hour had passed.
Pushing open the frosted glass door of the meeting room, Gu Jianchu was surprised to find Qi Simiao sitting there calmly, sipping coffee. Seeing her enter, Qi Simiao beamed. Gu Jianchu sat down opposite her, resting her forehead on one hand with a hint of languor, and was the first to speak. “What do you want?”
In Qi Simiao’s mind, while there had always been an uncrossable distance between her and Gu Jianchu, it had never been an attitude of such alienation. She blamed all of this on Qiao Qi, which was why she was sparing no effort to harm her. She wasn’t one to tolerate a cold shoulder, but as long as it came from Gu Jianchu, even unpleasant things seemed to become acceptable.
“How about we go for Japanese food for lunch? I tried a new place yesterday. It was pretty good; you should like it.”
Gu Jianchu’s lips curved slightly. She got straight to the point. “What did you get from Ruifeng this time?”
“Let’s talk over lunch. You must be busy this morning, so I won’t disturb you. I really just came to ask you to lunch, since we haven’t seen each other in a while.”
Gu Jianchu said no more, tacitly agreeing to Qi Simiao’s invitation. After Qi Simiao’s cheerful departure, she stayed alone in the meeting room for a while longer. She and Qiao Qi hadn’t seen each other since they parted last weekend. It wasn’t just because of their busy schedules, but more to avoid suspicion. She missed her a little, so she gave her a call.
The call hadn’t connected when Liu Yanyan knocked and entered. Gu Jianchu hung up the ringing phone and looked at her questioningly. Liu Yanyan said, “The President has already hinted to the supervisory board that he plans to conduct a full review of the projects you’ve handled. If all goes as expected, the board will then propose an emergency board of directors meeting.”
On her previous visits, Qi Simiao had brought her news of the methods Gu Yong planned to use to frame her. She had long anticipated that Gu Yong’s ultimate goal was to use the supervisory board against her. This deliberate scheme was about to surface, but of course, she already had a plan of her own.
These past few days, Gu Jianchu had finally prioritized seeing Director Wu. “What’s the word from Grandpa Wu?”
Rongfang’s success today was largely thanks to this “Grandpa Wu” Gu Jianchu spoke of. Although he no longer held a key position and paid no mind to the company’s operations, his words still carried immense weight. Moreover, after the Gu family’s shares were re-divided, Director Wu had become the largest shareholder.
“He still says he’ll only take a stance after seeing your capabilities.”
“Clear my schedule for tomorrow. I’m going to see him in person.”
“Understood.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a ringing phone. Gu Jianchu glanced at the screen, and a smile appeared on her face. Liu Yanyan tactfully left the meeting room, hearing Gu Jianchu’s rarely heard soft tone as she closed the door.
“I was just in a meeting. What’s up?”
This was Qiao Qi’s first call back after her meeting ended. The sound of her footsteps as she walked back to her office was clearly audible. Gu Jianchu pictured her, and her smile deepened.
“I just missed you.”
A smile entered Qiao Qi’s gentle voice. “Are you free tomorrow? Want to have dinner together?”
“I might not be free tomorrow. Are you free tonight?”
Qiao Qi paused, seeming to think. “I have to go back to that side tonight.” The car Old Master Jin had sent to pick her up was already waiting downstairs; it would be difficult to even try to get out of it.
Gu Jianchu naturally understood her predicament. “The day after tomorrow, then. I’ll pick you up from work the day after tomorrow. No matter what President Qiao is doing, I’m taking you with me.”
Qiao Qi chuckled and agreed, “Okay.”
The May weather was very fickle. The sun that had been shining just a moment ago was obscured by dark clouds in the time it took to make a phone call. The sudden gloom was irritating. By noon, the air was thick with sweltering heat—a prelude to rain.
Gu Jianchu drove to the location Qi Simiao had chosen. While parking, she unexpectedly ran into Shen Shoucheng, who was coming out with takeout. It seemed the restaurant truly had a reputation, as even Miss Shen, who had come from afar, would make a special trip to get lunch here.
Shen Shoucheng saw her and came over to greet her. “What a coincidence, President Gu.”
“It is a coincidence. For Miss Shen to come and get takeout in person, this place must really be something special.”
Shen Shoucheng smiled, a little embarrassed. “It’s my first time here, too.”
Gu Jianchu glanced at the amount of food in her hands and asked casually, “Eating this much all by yourself?”
Shen Shoucheng didn’t hide it. “I’m bringing it to Sister Qiqi. I wasn’t sure what she likes, so I bought a little of everything.”
Gu Jianchu’s eyebrow twitched upward. So it really is for Qiao Qi, she thought. She said, “She just got out of a meeting, so she probably hasn’t had lunch yet. I won’t keep Miss Shen any longer, then.”
Leaving behind a remark with a hidden meaning, Gu Jianchu nodded a farewell to Shen Shoucheng, leaving her standing there, stunned and increasingly vexed. Coincidentally, the rain began to fall at that very moment, starting with a light, insincere drizzle.
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