Chapter 20: Slapping the Scum 3
Gu Youchen ignored Shen Zhiqian.
He simply gave him a meaningful look.
Shen Zhiqian sensed a hint of pity in that look.
Pretentious! He sneered inwardly and left.
His phone rang incessantly. Seeing an unknown number, Shen Zhiqian rejected the call.
A text message popped up: “Qian, it’s Luoqing. Are you free? Let’s talk.”
Shen Zhiqian looked at it for two seconds and blocked the number.
Over the next two days, more and more information about the Si family was unearthed online. Hidden information was exposed.
When someone is down, everyone kicks them. The wolves in the financial market wouldn’t miss this opportunity to feast!
Si Luoqing was in a panic. She changed her number and called Shen Zhiqian repeatedly, but he hung up each time. Even Shen Yeyuan, who usually cared about her, only made polite conversation.
Desperate, she turned to Xue Wenlan.
Although Xue Wenlan had little say in the Shen family, she was Shen Zhiqian’s mother, and might be of some use.
“Auntie, I’m so sad about what’s happening to the Si family. I was studying abroad, and my parents didn’t tell me how bad things were. I only found out from the reports…” Si Luoqing portrayed herself as innocent and helpless.
Xue Wenlan had been ridiculed while playing mahjong these past few days.
Those who used to praise her future daughter-in-law’s beauty and singing skills now mocked her, saying she should get her eyes checked and protect her savings from being scammed.
Thinking about this, Xue Wenlan was furious.
The reason she agreed to meet Si Luoqing for coffee was to vent her anger.
“Luoqing, you’re a filial child. You must have given your savings to the family, right? If I had a daughter like you, I’d be very happy!” Xue Wenlan said with a fake smile.
Si Luoqing sensed an opportunity. “I’ve always wanted to be your daughter…”
Xue Wenlan inwardly cursed her shamelessness. She took a box from her bag, revealing a white bracelet.
She put the bracelet on Si Luoqing’s wrist. “Then be my goddaughter. Luoqing, take my surname, Xue.”
Si Luoqing’s expression froze.
Goddaughter? Take the Xue surname?
What did Xue Wenlan mean?!
Wasn’t she supposed to marry Shen Zhiqian and become Xue Wenlan’s daughter?
Becoming Xue Wenlan’s goddaughter would completely ruin her chances with Shen Zhiqian!
And taking the Xue surname instead of Shen meant it was Xue Wenlan’s idea, unrelated to the Shen family!
Everyone knew Xue Wenlan had returned to the Shen family because of her son, and Shen Yeyuan didn’t acknowledge her. What was the point of following Xue Wenlan?!
Xue Wenlan watched Si Luoqing’s expression with satisfaction.
Si Luoqing was trying hard to control herself, but when she saw the quality of the jade bracelet, she trembled with anger.
The whiteness was fake. Even a layman like her could see the flaws. It was clearly a cheap, ten-dollar bracelet! Even the box was more valuable than the bracelet itself!
“Auntie, I can’t accept such a precious gift.” Si Luoqing struggled to control her emotions, forcing a gentle smile. “My relationship with Zhiqian isn’t suitable for me to be your goddaughter.”
She disgustedly removed the bracelet, placed it back in the box, and pushed it towards Xue Wenlan.
Xue Wenlan had achieved her goal of venting her anger and didn’t insist. She took back the bracelet and said:
“Mm, you and Zhiqian have known each other since childhood. This child is stubborn, and even I, his mother, can’t control him! I don’t know what’s so good about Ning Qingqing, but my son’s heart is set on her. He’s so attentive to that girl, it makes me jealous!”
Si Luoqing maintained a smile, but hearing Xue Wenlan use Ning Qingqing to belittle her was humiliating!
She had never thought that she would flatter this woman, unite against Ning Qingqing, only to be betrayed, with Xue Wenlan implying that Ning Qingqing was her preferred choice for a daughter-in-law!
Knowing Xue Wenlan was useless, Si Luoqing prepared to leave.
But Xue Wenlan stood up first. “Oh, Qingqing invited me for a beauty treatment. I forgot, sorry, Luoqing, I have to go!”
She grabbed the ten-dollar bracelet and left.
Si Luoqing tried to chase after her, but the waiter stopped her. “Miss, please pay your bill.”
Si Luoqing: “…” Her eyes were burning behind her sunglasses.
Ning Qingqing heard Wang Qian’s voice message and laughed.
The café where Si Luoqing and Xue Wenlan met was usually quiet. Wang Qian had gone to deliver documents to a client, and her taxi was involved in a fender bender, so she got out.
It was noon, and she found a café nearby, sitting in a corner to eat before returning.
Si Luoqing and Xue Wenlan didn’t notice her and sat in an area with many plants.
Therefore, Wang Qian heard their conversation clearly and relayed it word for word to Ning Qingqing.
Ning Qingqing thought the world was interesting. She didn’t expect Xue Wenlan, who disliked her, to use her to humiliate Si Luoqing!
After chatting with Wang Qian, she mentioned the Beishi project. “Qingqing, we didn’t get the project. I heard Mr. Shen is coming back today.”
Ning Qingqing was surprised. Gu Youchen’s efficiency was amazing, turning the tables in just two days.
The case study she provided was only inspiration. The implementation was complex, and she had been thinking about it these past two days, only getting some ideas today.
She wanted to ask Gu Youchen how he did it.
A message came from Gu Youchen: “Qingqing, Gu Group successfully signed the contract. You’re the biggest contributor. Let’s celebrate when I get back.”
Ning Qingqing was a little embarrassed but happy.
She had worked for two years and her greatest achievement was finding loopholes in contracts.
As Shen Zhiqian’s girlfriend, even if she did well, people might attribute her success to her position.
Now, she had finally proven her ability.
She replied, “Congratulations on winning the project. It’s everyone’s credit.”
It sounded formal. Ning Qingqing sighed; she really didn’t know how to interact with Gu Youchen.
The man replied, “There’s a signing ceremony tonight. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”
Ning Qingqing’s heart was inexplicably nervous.
She typed, “Okay.”
After studying project documents all morning, Ning Qingqing decided to go to the park for exercise.
She had lunch, digested for a while, changed into sportswear, and went to the nearby park.
At the same time, Shen Zhiqian’s flight landed. He went straight to the company from the airport.
Losing the bid wasn’t a huge loss for Shen Group, but he was still angry.
Gu Youchen again!
Since elementary school, he was constantly compared to Gu Youchen.
He was playful, had many friends, and played games, so his grades weren’t great.
From junior high, he studied hard.
But when he was preparing for the high school entrance exam, he heard that Gu Youchen had gone to study abroad.
That feeling of emptiness, he still remembers!
Later, they were in different countries, but because of his mother, Gu Youchen was often mentioned by Xue Wenlan.
His international awards, his university investments, his contributions to Gu Group’s overseas branch…
Endless.
Shen Zhiqian felt he wasn’t inferior, but he lost a bid due to a mistake by his marketing department.
And this time, he was personally involved, expecting victory, yet Gu Youchen won.
He was furious!
In the CEO’s office, everyone noticed his bad mood.
After handling some contracts, Shen Zhiqian still felt suffocated. Looking at a contract from the legal department, he found an outlet.
He didn’t take the elevator but went down to the legal department via the emergency stairs.
“Mr. Shen!”
“Mr. Shen!”
The legal department greeted him respectfully.
Shen Zhiqian nodded and walked to Ning Qingqing’s desk.
He was stunned to see a strange young man sitting there. His expression froze.
Holding the contract, Shen Zhiqian approached the young man.
Gao Bin quickly stood up. “Mr. Shen!”
Shen Zhiqian looked at him and asked, “Who are you? What about the employee who used to sit here?”
Gao Bin introduced himself. “Mr. Shen, I’m Gao Bin. I started working here the day before yesterday. The employee you mentioned is Miss Ning. She resigned and handed over her work to me.”
Shen Zhiqian felt a buzzing in his head.
Seeing that the young man knew nothing, Shen Zhiqian went to the legal director’s office.
Director Wang was processing approvals when Shen Zhiqian burst in.
“Mr. Shen, you’re back?” he said with a smile.
Shen Zhiqian went straight to the point. “Where’s Ning Qingqing?”
Director Wang’s expression was strange. “Mr. Shen, didn’t you approve her resignation?”
Shen Zhiqian pressed his temples. “I don’t know. When did she leave?”
Director Wang realized their misunderstanding. He started sweating.
“Ning Qingqing came to me three days ago to resign. She said she had discussed it with you… I thought you had good news…”
Shen Zhiqian took a deep breath. “So, her resignation is finalized?”
Director Wang nodded. “Yes, Mr. Shen, it’s my fault. I thought you had discussed it, for the sake of the child, and since you were busy on a business trip…”
For the sake of the child? Shen Zhiqian chuckled.
He didn’t have time to deal with the resignation because he finally realized Ning Qingqing was serious about breaking up!
She deleted his WeChat, blocked his number, and even blocked Wu Tezhu. He thought he could just coax her.
But now, her seat was occupied, she had resigned without looking back, leaving the place she had joined right after graduation, leaving his world…
She was really breaking up with him!
His anger over losing the project was replaced by emptiness and panic. He left without another word.
He gave the contract to Wu Tezhu and left.
He drove himself, borrowing a phone from the security guard.
He dialed her number, his heart pounding.
This was the first time he was so nervous calling Ning Qingqing.
But only a busy tone, it was connected but nobody answered.
He called three times before hanging up.
At that moment, the receptionist saw Shen Zhiqian and brought a package. “Mr. Shen, this is your package. Should I bring it to your office?”
Shen Zhiqian had a bad feeling.
He took it and waved the receptionist away.
Shen Zhiqian quickly opened the box, revealing a small gift box.
A familiar box. He had given it to Xiao Wang, his driver, to deliver to Ning Qingqing on her birthday.
Opening the box, the Porsche car key lay inside.
Shen Zhiqian’s fingers tightened. It felt like his heart had been pierced.
He took a deep breath and drove to Ning Qingqing’s house.
A familiar road, but a completely different mood.
The security guard recognized him and nodded.
Shen Zhiqian was about to enter the complex when he turned around.
He went to a nearby cake shop and chose an eight-inch two-tiered fruit cake, then returned.
He would celebrate her birthday again, and coax her back.
Since she cared so much about marriage, he would talk about his family and explain why he didn’t want to get married.
Even if he didn’t want to get married, it wouldn’t affect their relationship, because marriage wasn’t the strongest bond.
Love was.
He would love her forever. That would be more reliable than a marriage certificate!