Qin Qing walked out of the lab and into the corridor outside, then froze. 996, who had been chasing him at a trot, also slammed on the brakes when it saw the two men ahead. Its chubby bottom slid across the floor for several meters before it quickly bristled and ran to hide behind Qin Qing. It was Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi. Cang Ming also wore a black suit, equally crisp and luxurious, but exuding a cold, imposing aura. His physique was very strong, with powerful muscles that weren’t overly bulging. Broad shoulders, a thick chest, a narrow waist, and straight, long legs. Wherever he stood, he seemed to steal the air around him.
Technicians passing by would immediately hide all expression when they saw him, tremblingly and respectfully greeting him with “President Cang.”
“President Cang.” Qin Qing also stepped forward and greeted him politely.
Cang Ming nodded with a faint “Mm.”
Xu Yizhi smiled and said, “Not many people can handle Thomson’s temper. You did well.”
“Getting along with colleagues is conducive to work.” Qin Qing lowered his head and answered modestly.
“You’re better suited to be my special assistant, handling external relations. You have a talent for it.” Cang Ming suddenly spoke, his tone very serious.
Qin Qing was stunned. Qin Zishi, who had walked out of the lab, was also stunned. When he had applied to Lanyu, he had sought the special assistant position. He had schemed and schemed but couldn’t get it, yet now Cang Ming was offering it to Qin Qing on a silver platter. What made Qin Qing so special? Where did he fall short compared to him?
Qin Zishi nearly bit through his teeth, but still had to put on a respectful smile. “President Cang, President Xu, you’re here too.”
The two men didn’t even glance at him. They only focused on Qin Qing.
996 scratched Qin Qing’s pant leg frantically with its chubby paws: “Say yes, say yes.”
The plot was indeed self-correcting. Cang Ming, who had never had any personal feelings and was as cold as a working machine, was actually poaching talent.
Before Qin Qing could respond, Xu Yizhi chuckled softly: “As President Cang’s special assistant, your monthly salary would be 80,000, and 100,000 after the probation period. The promotion opportunities are far greater than here. Perhaps in a few years, you could be assigned as a general manager of a subsidiary. Think it over carefully.”
Qin Qing finally snapped out of it and focused on his direct superior.
“No,” he smiled. “Actually, my specialty is better suited for being a lawyer, don’t you think, President Xu? It doesn’t matter if the salary isn’t high; it doesn’t matter if the promotion opportunities aren’t great. I’m willing.”
This refusal wasn’t very tactful at all. And so far, Cang Ming had never been refused by anyone. This feeling was a bit subtle, causing him to lower his head and silently savor it for a while with dark eyes. Qin Zishi secretly observed Cang Ming’s expression, hoping to see the expected displeasure or even anger, but there was none. Instead, Cang Ming’s gaze at Qin Qing became even more focused. His eyes, which had seemed to reflect no one, now clearly showed Qin Qing’s image. Qin Zishi felt an inexplicable panic. Something seemed to be slowly overturning.
Xu Yizhi chuckled softly, “As long as you’re willing.” He paused deliberately for a few seconds before making a solemn promise: “I’ll do my best to train you.”
“Thank you, President Xu.” Qin Qing pressed the up button on the elevator. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to work.”
996 wanted to howl in protest but didn’t dare provoke Cang Ming. So it climbed up Qin Qing’s long legs and sat on his shoulder. Qin Qing’s body tilted from the weight of this lump of fat.
Xu Yizhi steadied his arm and said warmly, “I’ll go up with you.” Then he casually put his hand on Qin Qing’s shoulder.
Seeing Xu Yizhi’s hand reaching toward that shoulder, 996 quickly jumped down and hid in a corner. It was still a bit scared after the last time this man burned its head with a cigarette butt. Dozens of pounds of weight suddenly disappeared, and Qin Qing breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Then he turned his head to look at Xu Yizhi’s hand on his shoulder.
Was it a coincidence?
Cang Ming stood with his hands in his pockets, watching the two of them intently. He didn’t look away until the elevator doors fully closed. He seemed to have forgotten why he had come to the technical department. His deep eyes flickered with a dark light. He even looked up at the floor indicator above the elevator, secretly guessing where the two had gone and what they were saying in that narrow, enclosed space.
This outward display of personal emotion and unusual concern for someone was unprecedented. Qin Zishi didn’t dare disturb Cang Ming, who was lost in thought. He took out his phone and sent a message to Shen Mingshu: [Qin Qing was raised by you. He must still care about you. Go win him over. Then we can find a way to ruin him later. Otherwise, I won’t get a penny of the Qin family’s fortune.] Shen Mingshu was naturally anxious that her son had been kicked out of the Qin family.
She replied immediately: [Okay, I’ll contact him soon. He listens to me best. After all these years, I’ve trained him like a dog. Don’t think he’s getting uppity now. Once I say a few soft words, he’ll come crawling back to me. If I told him to jump off a building, he would.] After her husband died, Shen Mingshu’s treatment of this son wasn’t love. It was psychological manipulation. Seeing this message, Qin Zishi felt relieved. The elevator had already reached the 16th floor, the legal department’s floor.
Seeing the elevator stop on the 16th floor for a long time, Cang Ming finally turned and walked toward the technical department, his tone icy: “Is the BUG fixed? Can the launch go ahead as scheduled?”
“The BUG is almost fixed. The launch will definitely go ahead on time.” Qin Zishi pushed aside all distractions and followed closely behind Cang Ming.
Meanwhile, Xu Yizhi led Qin Qing back to his office.
“Thomson really liked your gift. You know how to please people.” He praised, then added with a knowing smile, “But it seems you forgot who your boss is.”
Qin Qing smiled and took a thin envelope from his suit’s inner pocket.
“I have a gift for you too.”
“In an envelope? It wouldn’t be a check, would it? That would be bribery.” Xu Yizhi pulled out a chair and sat down, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
Qin Qing shook his head with a smile, then opened the envelope and took out a thin square handkerchief. The handkerchief was pure white, with roses drawn in varying shades of black ink. A rich floral scent permeated the fabric, giving its simple pattern a touch of decadent luxury. Xu Yizhi secretly took a breath. The overpowering fragrance of blooming flowers rushed into his nose and mouth, making him dizzy. At the same moment, Cang Ming, who was looking down at Thomson’s computer, also paused slightly. He involuntarily closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It smelled wonderful and familiar. He looked up at the ceiling, his hawk-like eyes suddenly becoming exceptionally sharp, as if trying to see through the layers of obstacles to the person who made his heart stir.
“A handkerchief isn’t bribery, is it?” Qin Qing asked as he spread the handkerchief on the desk and slowly folded it into a diamond shape.
“No.” Xu Yizhi leaned back into the soft chair, watching Qin Qing’s every move without blinking.
Those slender fingers were as clear as jade. Even the beautiful folded handkerchief seemed to become vulgar by comparison. A moment later, Qin Qing walked up to Xu Yizhi and gently tucked the folded handkerchief into his jacket pocket, carefully adjusting the exposed angle. He was so close. His warm, slightly sweet, slightly fragrant breath brushed against Xu Yizhi. A small corner of a black-and-white handkerchief embellished the black suit, giving the overly luxurious formal wear a touch of fresh elegance.
Xu Yizhi’s steady heartbeat became a little disordered under the gentle touch of Qin Qing’s slender fingertips. His sense of touch, sight, and smell were all invaded. The experience was subtle and novel. When Qin Qing stepped back a few paces and tilted his head to admire his handiwork, Xu Yizhi was already smiling silently. How interesting. Was this flirtation a return for the flirtation when he had held Qin Qing’s tie earlier? If he controlled his throat, Qin Qing had to find a chance to control his heart. He was truly rebellious. Xu Yizhi shook his head, his dark eyes brimming with laughter.
Qin Qing also smiled and said, “You seem to really like this gift.”
“Yes, I do. I want to give you a gift too.” Xu Yizhi put away his smile and took out a bundle of over a dozen law books from the cabinet under his desk.
Qin Qing’s smile froze for a moment.
Xu Yizhi patted these books, which weighed over ten pounds, and said warmly, “Memorize them within two months. You haven’t forgotten what you promised me, have you?”
Qin Qing reluctantly accepted his superior’s “gift,” his gentle smile a bit strained: “I haven’t forgotten. I will get my practicing certificate.”
“It seems you like my gift too.” Xu Yizhi squinted his narrow eyes and said in a deliberately low voice.
Qin Qing blinked, his eyes almost tearing up, and nodded obediently: “I like it very much. Thank you, President Xu.”
The words “thank you” somehow sounded like gritted teeth.
“Go study. I’ll quiz you before the end of the day.” Xu Yizhi waved his hand, watching Qin Qing carry the thick stack of books out of the office with unsteady steps, then covered his forehead and laughed out loud.
He had never realized how amusing it was to tease someone before. Qin Qing found his desk and dropped the books with a thud. His colleagues all looked over, then showed sympathetic expressions.
996 jumped onto the desk and taunted, “Meow, you’re just asking for trouble. Being Cang Ming’s special assistant would have been much easier.”
Qin Qing used a knife to cut the plastic wrap and took out the thick books one by one, neatly stacking them on the desk. Asking for trouble? That phrase should describe his past. Painful memories came flooding back, darkening Qin Qing’s eyes. Just then, the phone on the corner of the desk vibrated a few times. He picked it up and saw a message from Ji Lan.
[Qin Qing, are you tired from work?]
[I’ll come to the company to see you at noon today. Would you like to have lunch with me nearby?]
Clearly, Ji Lan was trying to make up for the almost invisible mother-son bond.
Qin Qing picked up his phone and replied with a “Yes.”
A belated compensation was better than a permanent debt.
[I’ll be at your company lobby at 12:30. I bought you some suits. The style suits you perfectly. I’ll bring them for you to see. You’ll love them.] Ji Lan’s tone was filled with excitement and joy.
Qin Qing smiled and replied, “Thank you.”
As he was about to put down his phone, a few more messages came in. They were from Shen Mingshu.
[Son, after you left, I realized I don’t hate you. I just didn’t know how to face you.]
[Come out and meet me at noon today. Let’s have a good talk.]
[I’ve really missed you these past few days. I raised you for over twenty years. How could I not love you?]
Qin Qing scrolled through these messages with his less nimble right hand. Shen Mingshu loving her son? Only the original owner would believe that. Besides, who had been supporting whom all these years? A cold mockery flickered in his eyes, but Qin Qing replied: [Okay. Come find me at Lanyu at 12:30 today.]
996 was stunned: “Meow, didn’t you already make plans with Ji Lan at 12:30? You want them to have lunch with you together? That’s not a good idea.”
Qin Qing smiled slightly, then immediately sent a message to Ji Lan: [Mom, let’s skip lunch today. My mother is coming to see me. She says she misses me.]
Ji Lan didn’t reply for a long time.
Qin Qing propped his forehead and waited. A few minutes later, he sent another message: [Mom, can you lend me two million yuan? I really need money right now.]
Ji Lan still didn’t reply, but Qin Qing had already stopped paying attention. He put his phone face down on the desk and continued organizing the law books, each one thicker than the last.
996 was full of question marks: “Are you short on money? Your grandfather gave you a lot. And don’t you hate Shen Mingshu? Why are you pushing Ji Lan away for her?”
996 couldn’t figure out what this flower spirit was doing. Qin Qing smiled without answering. Elsewhere, Ji Lan looked at these two messages, trembling with anger. Her son still cared about Shen Mingshu. Even after being abused like that, he still couldn’t let go of his feelings for her. When faced with two mothers, he would unhesitatingly choose Shen Mingshu over her. At this moment, Ji Lan finally understood what it felt like not to be chosen, not to be valued, not to be loved. No matter how many times Qin Qing told her, “I’m in pain,” she couldn’t understand. But this one rejection made her realize that this pain really did tear at the heart.
Ji Lan’s eyes were red, tears falling. She knew exactly why Shen Mingshu was contacting Qin Qing at this time. Qin Zishi had been kicked out, so Shen Mingshu was anxious. She wanted to win Qin Qing over, to control him, to pave the way for her son. Now both sons belonged to her. With just one word, they would come running, giving her whatever she wanted. Why would Qin Qing need money? He must be planning to give it to Shen Mingshu. Qin Zishi had also been buying her all kinds of expensive things.
Why did both her sons favor Shen Mingshu? Qin Qing had grown up with her, which was understandable, but Qin Zishi had been with her for twenty-five years. Ji Lan trembled as she scrolled through her contacts. After searching for a long time, she realized she didn’t even have Shen Mingshu’s phone number.
She immediately called Qin Zishi, her voice cold as ice: “Tell Shen Mingshu to stop bothering my son. She’s your mother. I don’t care how you honor her, but she’s not going to use Qin Qing. Don’t ask me for money anymore either. It’ll just end up in her hands anyway. If she thinks she can live a good life through your connection to the Qin family, she’s dreaming. If I find out she’s contacting Qin Qing again, I’ll have her permanently banned from Haishi.”
This was the first time Ji Lan had spoken to Qin Zishi with such hatred in her voice. Before Qin Zishi could react, the call was already disconnected. There was no room for negotiation. If even Ji Lan started to despise him, what would he have left? Qin Zishi stared at the darkened phone screen, an endless fear creeping into his heart. The office was bathed in warm, bright sunlight, but Qin Zishi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He wanted to destroy Qin Qing, but his plan had been exposed and shattered by Ji Lan before it even began. Ji Lan was his only pillar, but some force had pushed her away. What had Qin Qing done? Was there really no chance of winning against him? Qin Zishi clenched his fists and pounded his desk like a madman, his expression twisted like a trapped beast.
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