Chapter 11: The Breakup is in Progress 2
After getting an IV drip, Ning Qingqing took two days of sick leave, and her cold finally completely recovered.
Arriving at the company in Shen Zhiqian’s car, Ning Qingqing received a warm welcome from her colleagues, who all came to express their concern.
Only Wang Qian quietly told her during lunch, “Qingqing, you wouldn’t believe it, the whole company exploded after Shen Zong carried you out of the office that day.”
They had two employee groups, one included Shen Zhiqian and Ning Qingqing, and the other excluded them and the executives.
Wang Qian handed her phone to Ning Qingqing. “Look, they’re all saying that even if Si Luoqing signed the endorsement, she wouldn’t be able to stir up trouble, the father is hard to deal with, let alone the son.”
Ning Qingqing looked at those messages and couldn’t help but laugh. She suddenly remembered the matter she had asked her mother’s assistant, Nie Yu, to look into a few days ago.
Speaking of the devil, Nie Yu called at that moment.
Ning Qingqing went to a quiet place to answer the call. “Brother Nie.”
Nie Yu said, “The Si family really has problems. It’s said that Si Linjun’s venture into the short video platform market failed. He had too much ambition in the early stages and invested a lot of money, now it’s all gone.
They started the Si family with venture capital, and if their funds are cut off, the risk is very high. Plus, I heard that there was a project where their early estimates failed, they invested hundreds of millions, and it’s all gone down the drain.
The Si family can only barely survive on the dividends from previous investments, but in reality, it’s just a facade. They’re not in debt, but it’s definitely just a superficial appearance of prosperity.
Ning Chuang Capital has always been their competitor. Your mother was still wondering last month why the Si family hadn’t made any moves on several good projects recently. Only in the last few days did we find out the reason.
Now, their previously competitive market share has been taken over by your mother and another venture capital firm. Because they had concealed it well before, we only discovered it recently.
We predict that the Si family has only two ways to get out of this predicament—
First, they find a capital-rich company willing to provide funds to help them tide over this difficulty. The Si family would use this money for their expertise in venture capital, giving up most of their shares, taking only a small portion, while the majority of the dividends go to that company.
But this is unlikely, because if that company really had the funds, why wouldn’t they choose Ning Chuang Capital or a more famous international venture capital firm, but choose an empty shell?
The second option is, didn’t Si Luoqing return to China? She uses her popularity in the entertainment industry to either find investors or marry into a wealthy family.
As long as her husband’s family has good strength and reputation and can guarantee the Si family, then the Si family can apply for a bank loan and use the funds to revive the project. With the news of the two families’ marriage, they can re-enter the market and compete with us for market share.”
At this point, Nie Yu’s voice suddenly became filled with joy. “Qingqing, are you willing to learn about our competitors at Ning Chuang? Have you thought it through and decided to come home to help your mother?”
Hearing this, Ning Qingqing twitched the corner of her mouth.
After a moment, she said, “Okay, I’ll think about it.”
Nie Yu, who had been prepared for Ning Qingqing’s refusal, was shocked. “Qingqing, you really plan to come back?”
Ning Qingqing said, “Although I have a double degree in finance and law, after graduation I have always worked in law-related fields. Finance is still completely new to me.”
Nie Yu laughed. “It’s okay, if you’re willing to come back, our entire company will help you.”
Then, his tone suddenly became serious. “But Qingqing, as your older brother, I have to ask you, are you suddenly willing to leave Shen’s because Shen Zhiqian wronged you?”
He also learned today that Si Luoqing signed with Shen’s. With Ning Qingqing leaving at this critical juncture, he couldn’t help but think more.
Ning Qingqing said, “No, I just think it’s better to work for my own family than for others. My mother doesn’t only have me as a daughter? I have to go home sooner or later.”
“Good.” Nie Yu’s tone became even more cheerful. “Then let me give you another piece of good news, Ning Chuang is preparing to officially move to Di City.”
“Ah?” Ning Qingqing was completely shocked.
Nie Yu said, “The investment environment in Di City is better than in the South, so we started preparing at the beginning of this year, and we expect to officially relocate next month.”
Ning Qingqing couldn’t help but smile, but she pretended to be angry. “Okay, you all conspired to keep it from me!”
Nie Yu laughed. “Wasn’t it supposed to be a surprise? Okay, if you plan to resign from Shen’s, you can start preparing for the handover now, take a week’s rest, and then start working at Ning Chuang directly.”
Ning Qingqing replied, “Okay.”
After hanging up the phone, she suddenly felt relieved.
She thought, whether she and Shen Zhiqian could continue or not, she couldn’t continue working at Shen’s.
She has been working in the legal department for two years, and continuing to do this job wouldn’t improve her, unless she goes to a law firm to become a lawyer.
And why not use her family’s resources? In college, she also liked researching investment projects, and maybe she could find the sense of accomplishment she wanted in this field.
She never wanted to just be a protected little flower under Shen Zhiqian’s care. If they could continue, she also hoped to become a tree that could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
So, in the afternoon, Ning Qingqing started preparing handover materials and continued to improve and submit unfinished contracts for approval.
With two days left, Ning Qingqing saw that the countdown to her birthday was getting closer, only three days left.
Since mentioning marriage that day, she and Shen Zhiqian hadn’t mentioned it again. They went to and from work together as usual, and if there was no dinner, they went home together.
Every night before bed, Ning Qingqing would see Gu Youchen’s funny jokes, and sometimes she would like or comment on them, and they would only interact on Moments.
But they hadn’t seen each other again.
Ning Qingqing only had one contract left to revise. After working hard all morning, nearing noon, she bought a cup of coffee downstairs because she was sleepy.
When she came up, as she stepped out of the elevator, she didn’t expect someone to walk into the elevator at the same time. That person was very fast, and directly bumped into Ning Qingqing.
Ning Qingqing quickly stepped back, but it was too late, the coffee cup fell to the ground, spilling all over the floor, and splashing quite a bit on the other person.
“Ah—” the woman screamed, then Ning Qingqing was pushed hard, her lower back slammed against the elevator handrail, a sharp pain shot through her.
Si Luoqing in front of her was wearing a designer dress, her makeup exquisite, but she seemed to have been scalded, her facial expression somewhat distorted.
Kenny, who was beside her, supported her while his eyes burned as he yelled at Ning Qingqing, “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you look where you’re going?”
The commotion in the elevator quickly attracted the attention of other colleagues on the floor, who all came over.
Si Luoqing had already put on a tearful expression. “It hurts so much… I came here to film a promotional video with Mr. Shen…”
Her skirt was now in disarray, and several areas of her bare legs were reddened, although there were no blisters, her skin was white, so the red marks were quite alarming.
Just then, Shen Yeyuan came over. “What happened?” The company promotional video was originally supposed to feature Shen Zhiqian and Si Luoqing, but Shen Zhiqian refused, so Shen Yeyuan had to do it himself.
Seeing Si Luoqing’s disheveled state, he instructed his assistant, “Take Ms. Si to change her clothes and go to the hospital to have it treated.”
“It’s okay, it’s just a little red, it’s fine,” Si Luoqing tried to put on a strong expression, saying to Shen Yeyuan, “Uncle Shen, I can still continue filming, it’s just that my dress is dirty, I need some time to borrow one from the brand.”
Some people around heard Si Luoqing’s address to Shen Yeyuan, their eyes subtle.
It seems that it’s hard to say who the future boss’s wife will be?
“Then rest for a while, I’ll arrange the dress.” Shen Yeyuan said, then looked at Ning Qingqing.
He knew Ning Qingqing, after all, she was his son’s girlfriend. Even if they hadn’t been formally introduced, he remembered her well.
Just then, Kenny spoke. “Mr. Shen, can our Shen’s employees go downstairs to buy coffee during work hours?”
He looked puzzled, as if he was genuinely asking.
After all, no one had introduced Ning Qingqing as Shen Zhiqian’s girlfriend to him. In his eyes, Ning Qingqing was just an ordinary employee of the legal department.
Shen Yeyuan looked at the time, his brows slightly furrowed. “It’s true that employees can’t leave their posts without authorization during work hours.”
Kenny pressed on, looking at Ning Qingqing. “Ms. Ning, such hot coffee, you’re walking while holding it and not looking where you’re going, that’s so dangerous! Fortunately, nothing serious happened, Luoqing only suffered a little skin injury.”
In one sentence, he placed all the blame on Ning Qingqing!
Everyone’s eyes immediately fell on her, all wanting to know how Shen Yeyuan would handle it!
Just then, a man strode over, pushing through the crowd, first glancing at Ning Qingqing, making sure she wasn’t injured, then turning to Si Luoqing. “It’s indeed our employee’s fault, I apologize on her behalf—”
Ning Qingqing looked at Shen Zhiqian who had arrived in shock.
The area where her lower back was hit still hurt, and it was probably swollen. A strong sense of injustice welled up in her heart, and now all the injustice, starting with his admission of her fault, turned into resentment.
He didn’t even ask, just like everyone else, he assumed it was her fault!
It was clearly Si Luoqing who rushed over, and she was in the elevator, with nowhere to retreat!
Ning Qingqing looked into Shen Zhiqian’s eyes and said word by word, “Mr. Shen, this is because of me, if an apology is needed, it should be from me.”
Shen Zhiqian frowned subconsciously. He didn’t understand why he had to apologize on Ning Qingqing’s behalf, she was still angry.
Ning Qingqing had already turned to Si Luoqing. “Ms. Si, I’m sorry.”
Si Luoqing smiled gently at her. “It’s okay, it’s my fault too.”
Her face was still a little pale from the pain, but she immediately smiled softly, making her seem magnanimous and generous.
“Okay, I’ll have someone send a dress immediately.” Shen Zhiqian didn’t like dealing with such things, but he didn’t want others to speculate on the situation.
He walked in front of Ning Qingqing, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “Qingqing, I’ll go upstairs to handle this, go back to the office and wait for me to have dinner together.”
Then, he turned to Kenny. “The two of you come with me to the meeting room upstairs, my friend will send a dress over soon.”
Everyone left one after another.
The elevator was dirty, and a cleaning lady came in with a mop to clean it.
Ning Qingqing walked slowly for two steps, her hand on her injured lower back, then said to the cleaning lady, “Auntie, I want to go downstairs to get some air.”
The cleaning lady nodded. “Okay, I’ll clean here, and I’ll go back upstairs to clean up the coffee at the entrance after you go down.”
“Okay, thank you,” Ning Qingqing said.
She slowly walked out of the company and didn’t want to go too far, so she sat down at a coffee shop near the company.
Just then, someone called her. “Hey, Ning Qingqing?”
Ning Qingqing turned her head and looked at the person, also surprised. “Senior Wu?”
Wu Fei was Shen Zhiqian’s high school deskmate, since Shen Zhiqian and Ning Qingqing were dating, he naturally knew Ning Qingqing.
“I happened to be here to take care of something, and I didn’t expect to see you.” Wu Fei said, sitting down opposite Ning Qingqing, and chatting, “Why are you alone, where’s Shen Zhiqian?”
“He’s still busy upstairs,” Ning Qingqing said.
Shen Fei then chatted about other things. He was always talkative, and they were quite familiar, so there was no awkward silence.
Just then, Shen Zhiqian came down from upstairs.
He heard from the cleaning lady that Ning Qingqing had gone downstairs, and he called but no one answered, so he came down to find her.
He didn’t understand why Ning Qingqing was angry, perhaps because it was Si Luoqing.
He had told Ning Qingqing long ago that when he was with Si Luoqing, it was purely childish play, he didn’t even know what liking someone meant at the time, he simply thought it was fun to have a girlfriend.
Thinking about how to explain things later, Shen Zhiqian walked to the intersection and turned his head to see Ning Qingqing chatting happily with Wu Fei by the window of the coffee shop.
Shen Zhiqian’s steps suddenly stopped, his eyes darkened, and finally turned into a self-deprecating smile!
Heh, Wu Fei had liked Ning Qingqing before, how could he not see it? And he was so worried about Ning Qingqing, but she was chatting and laughing with a man who had a crush on her!
All the words he wanted to explain turned into a mockery of his current concerns. Shen Zhiqian’s eyes were cold, and he turned and left.
Author’s Note:
My dears, when I wrote about the supporting characters, I chose names casually, and only realized today that Shen Zhiqian and his father’s names sound the same (Shen Qian, sweat!)… I quickly changed his father’s name (to Shen Yeyuan), I’ve also changed it before, everyone ignore my name-choosing failure…
Well, did you see that the Si family is doing poorly? The revenge of today will be doubled later!