Chapter 27: Reunion
Li Qi?
What’s he doing here?
Chen Jiamu hadn’t expected such a dramatic scene to happen again…
Their first encounter ended with Chen Jiamu hospitalized after being assaulted by Li Qi. Four years later, their paths crossed again in this chaotic situation…
“You…”
“Come to my office.”
Before Chen Jiamu could speak, Li Qi invited him.
Chen Jiamu was still bewildered. He took a couple of steps, then stopped, looking at Qian Chengfeng questioningly…
Li Qi’s presence silenced everyone; even Qian Chengfeng stood silently.
Could he be…?
Suddenly, a preposterous yet plausible thought struck him…
Frowning, Chen Jiamu followed.
As the door closed, whispers followed.
“He’s finished. He’s definitely going to be fired.”
“He lost his temper in front of the boss; he’s doomed…”
Unaware of the commotion outside, inside the office, Li Qi picked up Chen Jiamu’s discarded employee badge and stared intently at him.
“Why such a temper?”
“Shouldn’t you be in Beicheng? Why are you here?”
Chen Jiamu stared at Li Qi’s face. After four years, he seemed more mature; his features had lost their youthful softness.
His every movement exuded the confidence of a grown man; he was completely different from the sensitive and quiet eighteen-year-old…
So, everyone had changed in four years, except for him?
Thinking this, Chen Jiamu gritted his teeth, clenching his fists.
When angry, the mole at the corner of Chen Jiamu’s eye would twitch. He might not have noticed, but Li Qi remembered clearly.
“I’m sorry.”
“I was wrong back then.”
These words were like pouring oil on a fire. Chen Jiamu still resented what had happened, and Li Qi’s admission enraged him.
When speechless with anger, one might laugh. Chen Jiamu sneered. “Heh…”
“I thought you’d forgotten. After four years, you still remember?”
“How could I forget such a big thing? I’m nothing but a spoiled rich kid.”
“You’re so high and mighty; you’d certainly disdain being friends with a lowly worm like me.”
“Otherwise, why would you leave for abroad overnight without a word after making plans with me!?”
Chen Jiamu spat out the last words, his eyes burning with anger and resentment.
Chen Jiamu’s anger choked Li Qi; a bitter taste rose in his throat.
“I wasn’t…”
“It was sudden. I lost my phone, so… I couldn’t explain properly.”
“So, you didn’t even try to contact me?”
“You didn’t ask Song Jin? Getting my phone number from her wouldn’t have been hard, would it?”
“Li Qi, I considered you a friend. What did you think I was?”
“You could have explained this in a single sentence, yet you waited four years. Did you think I wouldn’t be upset?”
“You expect me to accept your explanation after four years?”
Chen Jiamu knew Li Qi’s reasons for leaving. He understood his difficulties.
But asking Song Jin for his contact information would have been easy!
He could’ve resolved it with a simple sentence, yet he waited four years!
Even someone trying to avoid contact would offer a perfunctory excuse. Was he just an annoying spoiled brat to Li Qi?
Li Qi didn’t expect such a strong reaction from Chen Jiamu. The man who could always retort now found himself speechless…
“I…”
How could Li Qi explain? Should he admit to suppressing his feelings?
“I’m sorry. It was unexpected. Aunt Song got sick abroad; I couldn’t speak the language, so many things were delayed.”
“I didn’t not consider you a friend, but I…”
Li Qi spoke briefly, omitting the hardships but conveying helplessness…
Chen Jiamu’s fists unclenched; his anger eventually gave way to frustration…
Without explanation, Chen Jiamu could imagine Li Qi’s life abroad.
He was quiet, had depression…
Probably without a single friend to talk to…
He couldn’t imagine how he’d survived the past four years, how he’d transformed…
Into this mature and composed person who could control the situation…
Chen Jiamu felt too easily letting him off would be unfair. After a long silence, he sat on the desk.
“After four years, you’ve become quite eloquent.”
“Don’t think you can get away with playing the victim. You’re just as frustrating as your employees!”
Hearing the shift in his tone, Li Qi felt relieved. After all these years, he hadn’t changed.
A little concession, and he’d soften…
“What did he do?”
“I’ll help you deal with him.” Li Qi continued, inching closer.
“Deal with him? I already quit.”
“Do whatever you want.”
Chen Jiamu rolled his eyes, arms crossed, looking arrogant.
“You’re just giving up like this?”
“That’s not like you.”
The Chen Jiamu he remembered was arrogant; he wouldn’t quit so easily.
“What else can I do? I’m a “poor” and “helpless” college student.”
Chen Jiamu was satisfied with his fabricated identity. It allowed him to see the reality and interact with people he usually wouldn’t.
“Does your sister know about this identity?”
Li Qi raised an eyebrow, tracing the edge of the employee badge, amused by his childishness.
“Don’t mention my sister.”
Chen Jiamu swung his legs; his youthful face in the sunlight looked like he was eighteen again.
Four years, and he hadn’t changed at all.
Li Qi sighed inwardly, softened by his actions.
“Since you’re a “poor” and “helpless” college student, don’t you want to turn things around?”
“Getting one person annoyed isn’t enough; getting many people annoyed is better.”
Raising the employee badge, Li Qi subtly lured him into his “trap.”
“Like what?”
Li Qi’s words piqued Chen Jiamu’s interest. If you can’t please everyone, then displease everyone.
Many at the company had mocked him, unable to understand how someone of his background could work at Jingyi…
“Like, using my influence.”
“As long as you stay, you can use my connections.”