“Xia He didn’t give me any benefits.” Fang Qingye looked up at Zhao Wenjun:
“It’s because you went too far. You and Xia He can fight however you want, but you can’t let innocent people take the fall for you!”
“Innocent people? You mean Zhang Qunying, right? I know that if this matter isn’t resolved quickly, due to public opinion, the bank will make her the scapegoat—at the very least, she’ll be dismissed, and possibly even fired. But this is only temporary!”
“You also know very well that our bank isn’t at fault in this matter at all! If I had become the director, once the matter was clarified, I would definitely have called for Zhang Qunying to return to work. I estimate it would take three months, at most half a year, for the truth to come out. All of this was within my calculations, but you ruined it!”
After Zhao Wenjun finished speaking, his eyes turned cold.
Fang Qingye, however, smiled faintly and said, “Director Zhao, your clever plan sounds good, but have you considered how much grievance and suffering Zhang Qunying would endure during those three months or half a year?! How would her life and family be affected? How would her relatives and friends view her?!”
“You say you’ve suffered injustice, but is this fair to Zhang Qunying?! Why should she be the sacrificial lamb in your struggle?! Just because she’s a nobody?!”
Fang Qingye wasn’t exaggerating.
He remembered that because of this incident, Zhang Qunying’s husband divorced her, and a perfectly good family fell apart.
Zhao Wenjun was taken aback and fell silent. Both of them sank into quiet contemplation.
After a long while, Zhao Wenjun finished the wine in his glass, stood up, and said to Fang Qingye, “I’m full. I’m leaving. Don’t forget to pay the bill.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the door.
“Director Zhao.” Fang Qingye suddenly called out to him.
“You’ve told me so much today—aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to Xia He or Director Liu for being the one who stirred up trouble?!”
“You won’t.” Zhao Wenjun smiled and said, “Besides, I’m resigning tomorrow. What does it matter if you report me or not?”
After saying this, he pushed the door open and left.
Only then did Fang Qingye notice through the window that it had started raining outside at some point.
The rain outside grew heavier, soon shrouding the world in a watery haze.
He didn’t leave but quietly drank the remaining wine in his glass.
The next day, as soon as work started, news of Zhao Wenjun’s resignation spread. He had submitted his resignation letter to Xia He’s desk, packed his things, and left without looking back. It was said he had gone to Shencheng.
Soon after, Director Zhang formally went through retirement procedures. Someone from the city branch came to announce that Xia He would be appointed as the director of Nanxin Branch. Su Ming, the former head of the credit department, was promoted to deputy director, and the vacant deputy director position would continue to be evaluated for suitable candidates.
Xia He also transferred Zhang Qunying from the Qianjin Road Savings Office to the branch’s internal operations, appointing her as the head of the credit department. Liu Na from the savings office took over her position.
A series of personnel adjustments were made within the branch, but none of this concerned Fang Qingye. He continued his internship in the credit department as usual.
One day after lunch, as Fang Qingye had just left the cafeteria and was heading back to his office, his phone suddenly rang. When he took it out, he was surprised to see that it was Xia He calling.
Her call?
Fang Qingye naturally had his superiors’ phone numbers saved in his phone, but they had never contacted each other before. Even after the investigation into the Tenglong Industry matter concluded, Xia He had never sought him out individually. As for work, there was no overlap either—Xia He wouldn’t assign tasks directly to someone at Fang Qingye’s level.
A call out of the blue today?
Fang Qingye thought for a moment and decided to answer, saying:
“Director Xia, hello.”
“Xiao Fang, are you free tonight? I’d like to treat you to dinner.” Xia He’s pleasant voice came through the receiver.
Treating him to dinner?
Fang Qingye immediately understood.
She wanted to thank him, but he still asked, “Director Xia, what’s the occasion for the treat?”
Xia He was straightforward on the other end of the line: “To express my gratitude.”
“No need to be so polite, Director Xia. I just did what I was supposed to do.” As he spoke, Fang Qingye instinctively glanced up toward the location of the director’s office on the third floor.
Sure enough, through the window, he could see a figure inside, looking right at him.
It was Xia He.
Xia He’s voice quickly came through the phone again: “How could that be? Besides, when Zhao Wenjun invited you to dinner, you agreed without hesitation. Now that I’m inviting you, you’re refusing? Are you not giving your senior any face?”
Fang Qingye chuckled at this: “Alright then, where shall we go?”
“It’s not very convenient outside. Come to my place. I’ll cook a few dishes. I’ll send the address to your phone.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Fang Qingye took another glance at the third floor. The figure had already disappeared.
After work in the afternoon, Fang Qingye packed up his things, went downstairs, and rode off on his scooter. Instead of heading straight to Xia He’s place, he went home first.
Back home, Fang Qingye went to his bedroom to change out of his uniform into a T-shirt and casual pants. He then went to the living room to leave a note for his mother, saying he wouldn’t be home for dinner that evening.
Unexpectedly, the door opened just then, and his mother, Zhang Meili, walked in.
“Mom, I’m going out to eat with a friend later, so you don’t need to make dinner for me,” Fang Qingye quickly explained.
“With Song Da Hai again?” Zhang Meili said as she hung her bag on the coat rack in the living room and began changing her shoes.
“No, it’s our Director Xia treating me,” Fang Qingye replied truthfully.
“Director Xia? That young, pretty female director at your bank? She’s treating you? How many people is she inviting?” Zhang Meili suddenly grew curious.
“Just me.”
“Why? I heard you say she’s already married, right?” Zhang Meili looked up at him.
“What does her marital status have to do with her treating me to dinner?” Fang Qingye was both amused and exasperated. He then explained:
“Mainly, she feels I helped her out.” Fang Qingye briefly told his mother about his deductions and role in the Tenglong deposit theft case.
After hearing this, Zhang Meili laughed. “Oh my, I didn’t know you had it in you. So those four years in college weren’t just wasted after all?”
Fang Qingye was speechless.
Mom, do you really think so little of me?
But then again, those four years in college really were spent idling away, mostly in internet cafes playing games.
Just as Fang Qingye was about to say something, his mother waved him off: “Go on, go on. It’s just as well—I don’t have to make dinner.”
Alright, brushed off again.
Fang Qingye didn’t say anything more. He went downstairs, got back on his scooter, and headed north out of the residential compound.
Xia He lived in the Northern Pearl Community, a recently built upscale residential area in the northern part of the county town. It not only had high-rise buildings but also two rows of villas.
Following the address sent to his phone, Fang Qingye arrived at a high-rise building in Zone B, took the elevator to the twelfth floor.
He’d heard that Xia He’s home was in the provincial capital; this was just a temporary residence. Moreover, the place was purchased by the branch office, intended for leaders who didn’t have homes in Nanxin.
Fang Qingye went upstairs and rang the doorbell. The door opened within two minutes.
Xia He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, her previously coiled bun now transformed into shoulder-length hair, adding a touch of charm to her carefree demeanor.
With an apron tied around her waist, she carried an extra hint of a young housewife’s charm.