The assistant receiving Song Que was named Bai Ningzhi. She was extremely professional. Even before Qin Wangye arrived, she had already analyzed the project proposal provided by Song Que and prepared several questions according to company requirements.
Upon listening to Song Que’s explanation, unabashed admiration shone in Bai Ningzhi’s eyes.
Song Que had a sharp eye. He could see that although Bai Ningzhi was young, she was like a sapling firmly rooted in the Qin family business, and during their conversation, she was clearly learning as much as she could.
Hearing Song Que cough twice, Bai Ningzhi hurriedly said, “Let me get you a cup of hot tea.”
Song Que nodded in gratitude.
As she picked up the teacup, Bai Ningzhi inadvertently caught a glimpse of Song Que’s side profile. It was impeccable. Compared to the shock felt when Young Master Qin first arrived on the scene, Song Que’s appearance leaned toward a beauty that made one hold their breath without realizing it.
Bai Ningzhi brewed clear tea and added a bit of honeysuckle to reduce internal heat. After steeping it three times, she finally served a clear, fragrant cup to Song Que.
Just then, Qin Wangye pushed the door open and entered.
His aura was cold, stern, and hurried, indicating a packed schedule.
Song Que’s heart skipped a beat as he stood up and said, “Mr. Qin.”
“Hmm, sorry for the delay.” As Qin Wangye walked in, he happened to see Bai Ningzhi holding that cup of tea. He leaned closer and teased, “You would not have been willing to brew such clear, bright tea for me.”
Bai Ningzhi wore her signature light smile. “How could that be?”
“Fine.” Qin Wangye sat to Song Que’s right and got straight to the point. “Let me see the proposal.”
Bai Ningzhi stepped forward upon hearing this. She was usually the one Qin Wangye sent to test the waters. In fact, that cup of tea was enough to say everything. If he were not satisfied, Bai Ningzhi would have dismissed the guest with a cup of instant coffee, saving the trouble.
Qin Wangye flipped to the last page and commented, “Well done.”
Song Que’s fingers curled slightly on his knees as he said in a calm tone, “Mr. Qin is too kind.”
Zhao Guangyuan had been a background prop for a long time without an opportunity to speak. Being easily overshadowed by Bai Ningzhi, and wanting to take it upon himself to help Song Que, he added, “Mr. Qin does not know this, but our CEO Song did not stop working even when he was in the hospital.”
Hearing this, Song Que’s face darkened completely. He turned his head and stared at Zhao Guangyuan expressionlessly.
Zhao Guangyuan’s heart sank.
In his entire life, Song Que hated showing weakness to others the most.
Especially now, with Qin Wangye present.
Zhao Guangyuan should have known better.
Bai Ningzhi’s lips curled in a slight sneer. If CEO Song hired people like this as assistants, he must have absolute confidence in himself.
“Why are you looking at him?” Qin Wangye tossed the proposal onto the table and said offhandedly, “The back of your hand is bruised from the IV drip; I am not blind.”
Song Que did not know how to respond. “Then, about this investment?”
“Just follow your plan.” Qin Wangye interrupted. “Let us go. Let us get some food.”
Song Que did not refuse.
Bai Ningzhi and Zhao Guangyuan went out first. Qin Wangye deliberately slowed his pace by two steps, waiting until Song Que was by his side before asking casually, “Have you had breakfast?”
Song Que: “I have.”
“Who are you lying to?”
Song Que: “I left in too much of a rush.”
Qin Wangye let out a cold huff. Song Que glanced at his expression, but Qin Wangye was not buying it. “Surely you could have grabbed a couple of steamed buns on the way?”
Of course he could have, but Song Que was used to neglecting such things.
Just as they were about to leave, Qin Wangye moved quickly. As he sidled past to block Song Que, he slammed the meeting room door shut.
Song Que: “What is it?”
Qin Wangye kept one hand pressed against the door. His tall, slender height created an invisible sense of oppression, and his expression was very serious. “Tell me the truth, what did the doctor say? Was that night too much?”
Song Que was stunned, and then a flurry of dizzying stars seemed to explode in his brain.
No matter how many times it happened, for the time being, Song Que still could not adapt to Qin Wangye’s straightforwardness.
“I am asking you, is it serious?” Qin Wangye seemed not to notice Song Que’s embarrassment, which was so intense he was almost hyperventilating, but deep in his eyes, there was a hidden, warm smile. “That night, I…”
“Mr. Qin!”
Qin Wangye stopped talking, looking down at Song Que.
Song Que understood his nature, so he took a deep breath. “I will be fine once the IV drip is finished. The doctor said the fever has already broken; it is nothing major.”
Qin Wangye: “Did the doctor not mention any precautions?”
“Eat light, avoid the wind, do not stay up late.” Song Que was also awkward. Why was he discussing this with Qin Wangye?
Seeing that he finished speaking in one go, clearly hoping to skip this topic, Qin Wangye reluctantly believed him.
“If there is a problem, call me.” Qin Wangye said. “I am not an irresponsible person.”
Song Que felt like smashing the door with his fist and walking away without looking back.
“But you do not have my contact information, do you?” Qin Wangye smiled with a touch of rogue charm, then took out his phone. “We will have plenty of opportunities to cooperate in the future; it does not look right to only communicate through your assistant.”
Song Que froze for a moment, then quickly took out his own phone.
He added the number and scanned the QR code to add him on WeChat.
Qin Wangye curled his lips, noticing that Song Que’s profile picture was of a blue sky and white clouds. It was clearly a real photo, with good lighting, making the clouds look lazy.
Qin Wangye’s own profile picture, by contrast, was a pitch-black void, filled with a rather dated, pretentious vibe.
Qin Wangye had not realized it before, but now he felt it was quite silly, and he thought about changing it later.
Near the Qin corporate building, there was a private restaurant. It was not large, but the environment was exceptional, with a natural bamboo scent wafting through the air.
Zhao Guangyuan did not dare to follow. He felt he could not fit in and had already offended Song Que, so he was feeling anxious and found an excuse to leave early.
After sitting down, Qin Wangye started, “Is that assistant of yours reliable?”
“He only handles some trivial matters for me.” Song Que explained. “He is always on call; although his ability is average, his efficiency is good.”
Zhuiyuan was not the Qin family; it did not have that kind of strong backing. Most of the time, Song Que had to carry everything on his own, and even if he had a few capable people, they were not qualified to touch the core operations yet.
With the bodyguards standing guard outside, it was just the two of them in the private dining room.
Song Que let the host take the lead, and Qin Wangye ordered a table of light, easy-to-digest dishes.
During the quiet moments, Song Que felt his scalp tightening, trying to think of something to say.
Qin Wangye was faster. He cleared his throat, rested his elbows on the table, and said to Song Que, “I am in excellent physical shape.”
Song Que frowned, as if thinking of something, then nodded heavily. “Yes, you will live to be a hundred.”
Qin Wangye asked again, “Do you want to know the secret to living to a hundred?”
“What is it?”
“Eating well.” Qin Wangye said, serving himself a bowl of steamed rice. “Do you want some?”
Since he had already asked, Song Que could only respond, “Okay.”
Qin Wangye was truly hungry. By the time he polished off that bowl with the dishes, Song Que had only eaten a little. Qin Wangye grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth, shot Song Que a deep look as if saying to learn from this, and then had another bowl of rice.
Song Que did not understand what was so impressive, but influenced by him, he diligently ate a few bites of rice.
Qin Wangye smiled and rotated the chicken soup to Song Que. “Try this, it is their signature dish.”
“Okay, thank you.”
By the time Qin Wangye struggled to swallow his third bowl, Song Que had just finished eating. He could not help but ask, “You are not having any more, are you?”
“No more.” Qin Wangye leaned back, thinking to himself that the bowls here were really huge.
Song Que was also quite full, but he had a deep impression of Qin Wangye’s so-called secret to longevity.
The trip was a success, but Song Que still had to go to the company, so the two parted ways at the entrance of the private restaurant.
Through the half-lowered car window, Qin Wangye waved lazily in this direction.
The sense of reality made his heart feel warm and settled; Song Que waved back.
After Song Que’s car drove away, Qin Wangye called Shao Fuguang. “Come out.”
Judging by his voice, Shao Fuguang was still asleep, his tone full of the weakness and restraint of someone whose vitality was about to be cut off. “Go out for what?”
“Play basketball, bowling, or go racing or skydiving; anything.”
Shao Fuguang: “Are you okay?”
Qin Wangye: “I am just aiding my digestion.”
Shao Fuguang looked at the time with a frown. “You just finished lunch? Do not tell me you are digesting the three bowls of rice you ate.”
“How did you know?” Qin Wangye said solemnly. “You are getting smart, Fuguang. At the Zhaojin Building, I will be waiting for you.”
Shao Fuguang: “…”