“Little Jiang, thank you so much today.” Chen Xiuhua said gratefully, “My daughter, Qiao Xi, also works at Tianyu Group. Have you met?”
“Director Jiang, thank you for helping my mother today.” Qiao Xi said earnestly.
Isn't this world too small?
A man like Director Jiang still needs to go on blind dates?
Jiang Si's gaze fell on her, indifferent, with no particular emotion.
“It was nothing.”
He didn't say much, directly pushed a wheelchair over, and bent down.
“Let’s get Auntie to the hospital room first.”
He naturally scooped Chen Xiuhua into his arms and carefully placed her onto the wheelchair.
He was holding an adult weighing over a hundred jin as if she were a ball of cotton, the muscles in his arms bulging beneath his shirt, exuding a sense of strength.
Qiao Xi inexplicably thought of that rainy day, that one time he carried her.
It was her first intimate contact with a man after leaving Shang Beichen, and it didn't feel bad at all.
She shook her head, quickly grabbed Little Bean's hand, and turned to follow.
After settling her mother, Jiang Si glanced at his wristwatch, then turned to Qiao Xi.
“I'll take you to get something to eat.”
His tone was not a suggestion, but a statement.
Qiao Xi wanted to refuse, but when she met his deep eyes, the words of refusal wouldn't come out.
At the dinner table, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.
Jiang Si eased the mood, deliberately telling her interesting stories from his half-year overseas assignment.
“So, the outside world is this wonderful.”
Qiao Xi was amused by him; she felt this man was not only handsome but also humorous.
“Which city do you like?” he suddenly asked.
“Luocheng, in Country F,” she blurted out.
To go to Luocheng, she had even learned French and planned to resign to take a position as a translator at a multinational company.
She hadn't expected Shang Beichen to return.
Now she didn't have to go.
“Luocheng is a good place,” Jiang Si smiled.
Finally, to repay Jiang Si for the hospital fees, Qiao Xi took the initiative to add him on WeChat.
However, neither of them mentioned the blind date.
After dinner, Jiang Si drove them home.
Little Bean fell asleep in the car.
When they got out of the car, Jiang Si steadily held Little Bean and escorted Qiao Xi to the entrance of her apartment building.
Qiao Xi smiled as she took Little Bean, thanked him again, and then turned to leave.
Jiang Si didn't get into the car immediately but stood by the car and lit a cigarette.
He looked up at the building, his eyes filled with a different kind of emotion.
He was back, and he hoped this time he could be by her side.
By the roadside, a conspicuous Rolls-Royce had its window lowered, revealing an ice-cold face...
She didn't expect this woman to go on a date with Jiang Si.
Was she that desperate?
The car window rolled up, Shang Beichen took out his phone and made a call.
“Secretary Qiao, come downstairs, I need you for something.”
Qiao Xi was stunned for a moment, then coldly replied, “Sorry, President Shang, I’m already asleep. If you have something, please leave a message in the work group.”
After saying that, she hung up.
He really treated her like a workhorse; it was already ten-thirty.
Shang Beichen's face turned extremely dark, and he went directly to the Dynasty Club.
When he entered the private room, Shen Xiran, Gu Chen, and Nan Xing were all there, along with a beautiful woman playing cards.
“Move aside.” Shen Xiran said to the woman, who quickly stood up. Shang Beichen didn't sit there.
Instead, he sat on the sofa and drank a glass of wine in silence.
Nan Xing spoke, “First mission, unsuccessful?”
Shen Xiran rolled his eyes at him, “I say, with your qualifications, you still can't handle a woman? Either bribe her with money or seduce her with looks, play to your strengths.”
“Why should I seduce her? I want to punish her!” Shang Beichen's face was so dark it could drip water.
“Isn't that simple? Walk around in front of her with a beautiful woman. If she still has feelings for you, she'll be so angry she'll spit blood.”
Shen Xiran was an experienced hand.
“A woman's jealousy is beyond your imagination,” Shen Xiran hit the nail on the head. “Otherwise, first praise her to the heavens, then let her fall into the mud. It's guaranteed to be satisfying!”
“You're such a scumbag,” Gu Chen couldn't help but curse, pushing over the cards in front of him. “I'm not playing anymore.”
“Gu the second, can't afford to lose this little money? And you're finding an excuse to push the cards?” Shen Xiran rolled his eyes at him.
“At the end of the month, we'll arrange an inspection trip to Nanxing Island,” Shang Beichen said, then glanced at Nan Xing, “You're coming too.”
Nanxing Island was a major project that the Shen family was focusing on developing. It was rumored to have a metal mine underneath. It was named after Nan Xing at the special request of a mysterious big shot; if the name were changed, the development rights would be lost.
“Using me as a pawn?” Nan Xing walked over, picked up a wine glass, and took a drink. “That won't do, I'll only be the main character.”
She said with a half-joking tone.
Shang Beichen suddenly looked at Shen Xiran, “I heard you have that ‘Starry Eyes’ set?”
“You're playing that big? I spent a year getting that! It's a betrothal gift for my goddess,” Shen Xiran exclaimed, his face full of tension.
Although Shen Xiran indulged in debauchery, he was devoted to an online acquaintance he had never met, named Xing Zuiyue. He had chatted with this woman for two years and called her his goddess for two years.
The woman could play a beautiful violin, and her voice was very gentle. His principle was to wait until he had had his fill of fun, then meet his goddess and marry her, regardless of her appearance. He only wanted her!
“I want it.”
Shang Beichen only left these three words, put down his wine glass, and left.
“Hey,” Shen Xiran put down his wine glass and chased after him.
Nan Xing's gaze deepened.
No giant is invincible. Qiao Xi will be Shang Beichen's greatest weakness.
..
The next day, Shang Beichen returned to the company, his expression grim.
However, there was a multinational project that required three consecutive days of meetings. Due to the time difference, the meetings had to be held late into the night.
Shang Beichen directly adjusted the working hours for the Chief Secretary's office.
They were to arrive at the company at 2 PM and work overtime with him until late at night.
The working rhythm of the Chief Secretary's office always followed that of the CEO.
The first day lasted until half-past twelve at night, with a twenty-minute break in the middle.
Shang Beichen's Special Assistant, Chen Zheng, delivered late-night snacks on time.
Seafood congee, exquisite pastries, freshly ground coffee, and even fried chicken and sushi... catering to everyone's tastes.
Qiao Xi's complexion was not good.
Today was the first day of her period, and her lower abdomen ached intermittently, her hands and feet as cold as ice.
After giving birth to Little Bean, she hadn't recovered properly, and this problem had become a persistent issue.
She could only manage a few sips of hot congee before putting down her spoon.
“Xixi, why is your face so pale? Is it that time of the month?” Su Xiaoke leaned over and asked in a low voice.
Qiao Xi weakly nodded.
“Then you should lie down for a bit. I'll tell President Shang later, and Yueyue and I will share your work.”
“No.”
Qiao Xi quickly grabbed her and shook her head.
“We each have our own tasks. It will be more chaotic without me. I'm fine, I just need to lie down for two minutes.”
Before the second half of the meeting began, Qiao Xi returned to the conference room right on time.
Shang Beichen's gaze swept over her, pausing for a moment when he saw her pale face.
For the rest of the meeting, he clearly accelerated the pace, his words sharp and to the point, cutting off all the other party's nonsense.
An hour later, the meeting concluded successfully.
Several people, dragging their exhausted bodies, went downstairs.
The cars called by Qin Yue and Su Xiaoke arrived one after another and soon disappeared into the night.
Qiao Xi's car hadn't arrived yet.
Just then, a familiar Rolls-Royce silently glided to her side and stopped steadily.
The car window lowered, revealing Shang Beichen's well-defined profile.
“Get in.”
His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable command.
“No need, President Shang, I've already called a car.”
Qiao Xi took half a step back, politely refusing.
The man in the car turned his head, his gaze piercing through the night, fixed directly on her.
His tone was full of displeasure, “Do you want me to come down and carry you in?”
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