Chapter 41: First Marriage, Then Love, and a Side of Scumbag Crushing 19
That afternoon, Ning Qingqing and Si Yunli presented their respective demands regarding profit sharing. They ultimately agreed that Ning Qingqing would conduct another round of due diligence at the Si Corporation the next day, and they would discuss the collaboration further after that.
By the time she was finished, it was already past five o’clock. Perhaps feeling guilty for her actions earlier, Qiao Xiaomian arrived early. Ning Qingqing was organizing her files when the receptionist told her she had a visitor.
She walked over and, feigning ignorance, said to the receptionist, “I don’t know this young lady.”
Qiao Xiaomian immediately grew anxious. “My dearest Qingqing, how can you not know me? That’s not what you said when we were in bed together before my trip. You even called me your little sweetheart!”
The receptionist, seeing their exchange, knew they were joking.
Ning Qingqing let her in. “Come on, I’ll give you a tour of our company!”
“Tsk, tsk, it’s different being the boss’s daughter!” Qiao Xiaomian laughed. “President Ning is so powerful and domineering!”
Ning Qingqing rolled her eyes. “Alright, my mom’s not here. Stop with the flattery!”
Qiao Xiaomian lowered her voice. “Then can I flatter the boss’s daughter?”
She followed Ning Qingqing inside. Since it was almost closing time, everyone looked over curiously.
“This is my best friend, Qiao Xiaomian,” Ning Qingqing introduced her. “She works on solar energy projects at Haiyan. We might even have an opportunity to collaborate in the future!”
Everyone greeted Qiao Xiaomian warmly. With her outgoing personality, she immediately took a large box of snacks from her bag. “Help yourselves! And please take good care of my Qingqing!”
“You’re quite the smooth talker,” Ning Qingqing laughed.
Qiao Xiaomian raised an eyebrow.
After sharing the snacks and chatting for a bit, Qiao Xiaomian said to Ning Qingqing, “Our company actually has a project seeking investment right now. I’ll send you the project details later.”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Okay. The only project I have right now is the Si family’s, and it’s not even a sure thing. It all depends on whether they’re willing to make some sacrifices. Send me the information whenever you’re ready. If it’s feasible, it’ll be the first project I’ve brought in myself.”
“Not bad, not bad,” Qiao Xiaomian whispered in her ear. “So you’re not mad at me about this afternoon anymore?”
“Hmph,” Ning Qingqing said with a proud look.
They left the company together. Qiao Xiaomian had intended to ask her to dinner, but Ning Qingqing deliberately teased her, “My husband said he’s cooking tonight.”
“Ooh,” Qiao Xiaomian couldn’t help but pout. “Showing off already?” But despite her words, she was genuinely happy for her. She could tell her best friend was gradually letting go of the past and embracing her new life.
“Go on, go to your husband!” Qiao Xiaomian hugged her. “I’ll be fabulous on my own!”
Ning Qingqing laughed. “I’ll have him introduce you to some handsome guys!”
Qiao Xiaomian’s eyes instantly lit up. “Handsome? As handsome as him? Yes, please!”
“I thought you were going to be fabulous on your own?” Ning Qingqing teased.
After saying their goodbyes, Ning Qingqing went home and heard sounds coming from the kitchen.
Gu Youchen, dressed in casual home clothes, was stir-frying vegetables. The early summer days were long, and the evening glow from the window cast a soft, golden light on him.
Ning Qingqing suddenly remembered her first impression of him on the day he returned to the country. Back then, she had thought he had an icy aura, an unapproachable distance about him. But now, here he was, in a light gray cotton loungewear set and slippers, cooking at home.
It was a strange, yet wonderful feeling. A subtle emotion, a sweet sense of security, bloomed in her heart.
Hearing her, Gu Youchen turned his head and seemed to smile. “Qingqing, give me another fifteen minutes.”
She nodded, put down her bag, changed her clothes in the bedroom, and then went back to the kitchen. “I can help.”
He thought for a moment. “Then help me flip the chicken wings in the oven.”
She nodded, put on oven mitts, and turned the chicken wings one by one. The garlic aroma made her mouth water.
Gu Youchen seemed to notice and said with a hint of amusement in his voice, “Be patient. You can have more later.”
“I’m not impatient!” she quickly clarified. But as soon as the words were out, she instinctively swallowed. His gaze was still on her, and he had seen the small movement. She was instantly flustered, like a child caught in a lie. Ugh, why do I keep embarrassing myself in front of him? The thought brought back the events of the day, and she felt a fresh wave of unease.
But the dish in Gu Youchen’s wok required quick stir-frying, so he soon turned his attention back to it. The sizzling sound of the oil and vegetables seemed to cover up everything.
When he served the dish and called her to dinner, she noticed his expression was completely normal, as if the incident from earlier had never happened. So maybe she didn’t need to be so embarrassed?
She quickly took the chicken wings out of the oven and arranged them on a plate. “Does this count as me having cooked them?” she asked.
Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, he smiled. “Yes. You cooked them very well, Qingqing.”
He was actually praising her. Why did it sound so indulgent, so doting?
Her cheeks warmed. “It’s a deal, then. I’ll cook next time.”
“Okay,” he agreed.
They sat down opposite each other. It was the first time she had tasted a proper meal cooked by him. People in Di City generally preferred saltier food. Even at the Gu family home, some of the dishes had been a little saltier than she was used to. But she found that Gu Youchen’s cooking was perfectly seasoned, exactly to her taste.
She couldn’t help but look up. “Youchen, you don’t like things too salty either?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Too much salt isn’t good for you.”
In reality, he had noticed long ago that she preferred lighter flavors. Though she enjoyed spicy food, she would avoid anything too salty after trying it once. Plus, he had been to Qingtang Town several times and was familiar with the local cuisine, so he had guessed her preference.
“That’s great!” The silly girl had no idea she was being deliberately indulged. Instead, she was delighted, as if she had found a kindred spirit. “A lot of the restaurants here have good food, but it’s just a little too salty. I always get so thirsty after eating out. I can’t believe you like the same things I do!”
“Well, that’s why we got married,” he said, looking at her. “It’s fate.”
Under the crystal chandelier, her reflection, along with the beautiful glow of the lights, was mirrored in his eyes. She met his gaze and, for some reason, saw a different kind of emotion in them. It was as if he had been waiting for her all along.
The thought startled her. But just as she was about to ask, he got up to serve the soup. He had made a winter melon soup with abalone, shrimp, and vermicelli. The moment he lifted the lid, a fragrant aroma filled the air.
Her appetite was piqued. “Youchen, you’re such a good cook. I think I’m going to get fat.”
“Good,” he said casually. “You should gain another five pounds.”
He ladled a bowl for her and set it aside to cool. “Do you weigh a hundred pounds, Qingqing?”
She looked up. “Do I look like I’m under a hundred? Hmph, I’m one hundred and five!”
He nodded. “Are you ninety or ninety-five?”
She laughed happily. “I’m not telling you!” She was secretly pleased that he thought she was so slim and delicate.
Gu Youchen noticed she was smiling more and more around him, and her eyes were gradually starting to follow him. It was a good start. He would keep at it.
That evening, feeling like she had eaten a little too much, Ning Qingqing went for a walk with Gu Youchen. He held her hand, their shadows stretching long under the moonlight.
“By the way,” she said, remembering something, “my dad called me today. He said he had Si Luoqing shelved.”
A slight smile touched Gu Youchen’s lips. “Oh. Then I expect Keni will be at my company tomorrow to apologize.” He had thought it would take another week, but it seemed things were moving faster than he’d anticipated.
As Gu Youchen had predicted, when he came out of a meeting at ten the next morning, his special assistant, Zhou Luo, informed him, “President Gu, Keni and Si Luoqing have been waiting in the lobby for a while. They brought gifts and said they’re here to see you. Since they didn’t have an appointment, the front desk didn’t let them up.”
“I see,” Gu Youchen nodded. “Tell the front desk to inform them that I’m on a business trip.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll let them know right away.”
In the lobby, after waiting for forty minutes, Keni stood up as the receptionist approached. “Is President Gu out of his meeting?”
The receptionist looked at Si Luoqing, who was fully disguised in sunglasses, a mask, and a hat, and felt a sense of satisfaction. She shook her head and offered a standard, polite smile. “I’m sorry, Mr. Keni, but our President Gu is on a business trip.”
“But you just said he was in a meeting and that you’d inform him when he was done!” Keni said, his frustration growing.
The receptionist smiled, showing eight perfect teeth. “I did inform him. Special Assistant Zhou told me that President Gu left for a business trip right after his meeting.”
Keni knew they were doing it on purpose. His chest heaved with anger, but he didn’t dare lash out. The taste of being made to wait was all too familiar; it was the same treatment he had once given Ning Qingqing.
After the receptionist left, he turned to Si Luoqing. “He’s deliberately avoiding us.”
Si Luoqing’s eyes blazed with anger. She still had no idea she had been shelved by her company. “Then you keep waiting,” she said. “I’m going to my dad’s company. He mentioned a project he wanted me to help promote a few days ago.”
Keni wanted to say something but held his tongue. “Alright, go see Second Uncle. And don’t forget we have to go to Li Lan’s art exhibition this afternoon.” He didn’t want to go. Li Lan was Gu Youchen’s mother, and Gu Youchen was deliberately making things difficult for him, yet he had to swallow his pride and apologize. But he had heard that Director Guo would be there, so he had to take Si Luoqing to try their luck.
There was a saying in the industry: “Su in the north, Guo in the south.” “Su” referred to Director Su, whom they had met at a club recently. Unfortunately, Gu Youchen had humiliated him that night, and he had lost the opportunity to work with him. “Guo” referred to Director Guo, a big name from the south. If Si Luoqing could catch his eye and land a role in his film, she would have a chance at a comeback, even without the company’s support. Director Guo was a well-known oil painting enthusiast and had flown in specifically for Li Lan’s exhibition.
“I know what’s important,” Si Luoqing said. “I’ll go to the exhibition right after lunch.”
“See you there, then.” Keni continued to wait in the lobby, even sending his driver to wait at the garage exit to notify him the moment Gu Youchen appeared.
At the same time, Ning Qingqing and her assistant, Xiao Lan, arrived at the Si Corporation.
“Miss Ning is here?” Si Yunli had already arranged for Xiao Lan to wait for them and quickly set up a conference room. Soon, the project department staff arrived, and the meeting began.
This time, they were clearly well-prepared, and their answers to her questions were almost flawless. Even their data reports were textbook-perfect.
Ning Qingqing realized that a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. The Si Corporation had once been a worthy competitor to Ningchuang, and had even won a few rounds. They had real ability. If Si Yunli and his brother hadn’t been so ambitious as to invest in a field they knew nothing about, they wouldn’t be in this situation.
She took notes, planning to study them later and ask Gu Youchen for his opinion.
During a break, she went to the restroom. As she was touching up her makeup in front of the mirror, the door opened, and in walked Si Luoqing.
“Here for due diligence?” Si Luoqing, who was also there to touch up her makeup, couldn’t hide the resentment in her eyes, though she tried to sound casual. “What a coincidence. What do you think of my dad’s company?”
Ning Qingqing looked at her in the mirror. “It’s not bad.” Three simple words, conveying no useful information.
“Are you still mad at me because of what happened with Zhiqian?” Si Luoqing asked.
Ning Qingqing finished applying her lipstick and twisted it shut. “He and I are over. Even back then, I wouldn’t have gotten angry over someone so insignificant.”
Si Luoqing’s face paled. “Ning Qingqing, what’s your relationship with the boss of Ningchuang? Are you a relative of hers?”
Ning Qingqing slowly put her lipstick back in her bag and looked up, her gaze cool. “Miss Si, do you remember what you once said to me? I told you that one day, I would return those words to you.”
How could she forget? Si Luoqing had told her, “What doesn’t belong to you will never be yours. Even if you get it, you will lose it.” She didn’t know why Ning Qingqing was bringing it up now, but the recent loss of endorsements and her declining popularity had been making her increasingly panicked.
Ning Qingqing zipped up her handbag and smiled at her. “You will understand what I mean, Miss Si.” With that, she pushed open the door and left.
Si Luoqing stood in front of the mirror, her face twisted in a snarl. She stared at the closed door and tried to reassure herself. Impossible. What can Ning Qingqing possibly do? Without Shen Zhiqian, what is she?
Or did she manage to latch onto Gu Youchen at that dinner? Does she really think he’d see her differently?
Heh, as if!
Ning Qingqing is getting ahead of herself. I’ll see her fall, and fall hard!
Just then, her phone rang. It was a fair-weather friend from the industry. She ignored it. But soon after, a WeChat group that had been silent for a long time suddenly became active. She was already annoyed and hadn’t planned on looking, but then she saw that everyone was tagging her.
[Luoqing, I heard you were shelved? Oh my, how could your company do that? You’re their cash cow!]
[Yeah, Luoqing, how many years did you sign for? If it’s not too long, you should just pay the penalty and go solo! A year or two is fine, but if it’s four or five, that’s not good. A girl’s prime years are so short, and the entertainment industry is so fickle. Who will even remember you in four or five years!]
[Being shelved sounds so scary. Sigh, I feel so bad for you, Luoqing. Your old company is so cruel!]
[Don’t be sad, Luoqing. If you get shelved, I’ll introduce you to some resources if I have any. It might just be a few lines, but it’s better than nothing!]
[Yeah, I have a spot for a singer in the countryside. I’ll send you their contact info, Luoqing. It’s just a bunch of old people, they’ll love a sweet girl like you!]
…
The messages were all dripping with faux concern, but they were all just there to kick her while she was down.
Si Luoqing’s chest heaved with anger, but an even greater sense of dread washed over her. Why were they all saying she had been shelved? What did they mean?
She immediately called Keni. He answered, but he was clearly preoccupied. He was chasing after Gu Youchen.
Gu Youchen strode out of the elevator. He had a lunch meeting with a client, followed by a game of golf, and then he had to pick up Ning Qingqing from the art exhibition. She had promised to accompany Tan Xizhou there in the afternoon.
Just then, Keni rushed in front of him, a deferential smile on his face. “President Gu, hello!”
Gu Youchen glanced at him coolly and said, “I’m in a hurry to pick up my wife. Please move.”
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