Chapter 5
Translator: Aafkee
Proofreader: Superclubs2
The internship has been going very well for Lu Chuiqing. The tight schedule and the right amount of pressure from his working life have been so different from his school or family life, which made him realise that there is so much more for him to learn.
Lu Chuiqing’s seniors from Pu Qin Firm (普勤事务所) have a pretty good impression on him. Although he is just an intern, Lu Chuiqing is one of the very few who has both motivation and ambition. Not only does he have the ability, but also the meticulousness for his work and willingness to learn.
The three-month-long internship is nearing its end. Lu Chuiqing’s seniors from the firm know of his wish to enter a large corporation and are very happy to provide him with all sorts of information on the industry.
Lu Chuiqing returns to his university after the internship, and it is soon time for him to start his preparations for his graduation thesis and oral defence.
These two years have passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Chuiqing did not give himself time to slack off. In recent months, all his time was spent either on working as an intern or preparing for his thesis paper. It is only when he is lying in bed, does he have some time to think through his life over these two years.
What was he doing at that time?
He gave up on his CPA exams, married Chen Yuan before he had even graduated, only returning after their honeymoon to begin his preparations for his thesis paper and defence hurriedly.
Lu Chuiqing lets out a deep sigh. He was truly happy then, but he had sacrificed the important time he should have used to prepare for his future in exchange for a romantic wedding overseas and a romantic time filled with love and desire.
His heart is empty, he cannot express what these complicated feelings are.
Lu Chuiqing firmly slaps his own cheeks. He turns and covers himself with his blanket, and falls asleep to his roommate’s light snores.
It is a weekend morning. Lu Chuiqing plans to have breakfast with Zhou Ruiyang at the school canteen before heading off to the library to organise his material for his paper. He has made it a habit to check the stock market every morning. Looking at today’s market, with an 8% increase, Qifu Provisions is indeed in the top rankings for increasing stock prices.
Since Lu Chuiqing knows how Qifu Provisions will end up being targeted by Value Scan in the future, it is really awkward to watch.
Zhou Ruiyang likes to keep watch on the stock market too, and even half-jokes, “Qifu Provisions seems to be doing very well recently. My brother-in-law was also saying how Qifu Provisions will be this year’s number one in terms of stocks and bought quite a substantial amount. What do you say? Shall we join in the fun?”
Lu Chuiqing feels a bit embarrassed to tell him about Qifu Provisions’ demise in the future, “It’s fine if you want to invest in it for the short-term, but not for the long-term. Remember to withdraw completely before the start of next year. Remind your brother-in-law too.”
Hearing his advice sparks Zhou Ruiyang’s curiosity. Although Zhou Ruiyang and Lu Chuiqing study the same major, he cannot deny that Lu Chuiqing is indeed better than he is in this regard, “Why?”
The memory of Qifu Provisions falling into their demise is as clear as day in Lu Chuiqing’s mind. He takes a bite of his egg and answers, “Intuition.”
“Oh? Aren’t accountants all about their numbers and data?”
Lu Chuiqing looks away.
Unfortunately, Lu Chuiqing did not pay much attention to the industry after his marriage. He had only heard of the bigger incidents that had happened within the industry. Although he does not have much money now, knowing the stock market trends is akin to activating god-mode in life and money will be the least of his worries.
Lu Chuiqing takes it as god’s will for him to not rely on such methods to succeed. He is determined to pave his own path to success.
In early June, both Lu Chuiqing and Zhou Ruiyang successfully defended their thesis research. And with that, Lu Chuiqing completed the second Master’s degree of his lifetime. All there is left for him to do now is considered to be the most important aspect to all graduate students: fall job recruitment.
It takes skill to write a resume. As someone who has lived seven years more than his peers, Lu Chuiquing is ashamed of the fact that he has yet to write a proper resume.
There are bound to be some differences in the format and requirement of the resume needed for the applications of internships and full-time jobs. As such, Lu Chuiqing even went as far as to consult his seniors who have already graduated. He also attended several seminars regarding resume-writing and finally completed his life’s first ever resume.
Lu Chuiqing’s parents are both high school teachers. They have felt the obvious change in their son. Although they are happy for his positive change, it is heartbreaking for them to see Lu Chuiqing’s gradual weight loss from working himself so hard.
Taking advantage of Lu Chuiqing’s holidays, Mama Lu utilised her cooking skills and tried her best to make different types of delicious food every day. Her efforts finally paid off when Lu Chuiqing stopped looking overly skinny after some time.
Mama Lu is, of course, pleased with her son’s efforts and achievements thus far. However, there is one more thing she is concerned with, “Chuiqing, my dear, when are you planning to get a partner?”
Lu Chuiqing knew what his mother was about to ask the moment he heard the first three words that came out of her mouth. He knows that he can no longer hide from this question and replies half-heartedly, “Mum, you can’t rush these things. It all depends on chance and fate.”
“Chances rely on networking, and a network is something you need to create.” Mama Lu has been a teacher for over twenty years, there is no way he could have won against her in a verbal fight, “Just look at yourself. You are entering the workforce soon. Working out there is not easy, it is important to have someone you can rely on. This will lessen our worries too. We are not picky with your partner’s circumstances, we are merely asking for a kind-hearted individual who has a heavy sense of responsibility, someone who truly loves you.”
It is almost the exact same words Lu Chuiqing had heard in his previous life. He recalls the first time he brought Chen Yuan home to meet his parents. They were overjoyed. Being employed as part of the management of an international insurance company, good looks, respectful to elders… everything points him towards being a perfect son-in-law.
Mama Lu continues, “My old friend has been asking about you. His son is doing international trades. I have met him once. He’s only a year older than you and looks like a pretty decent person. My colleague also has a daughter, very pretty, and she is even taller than you! Do you want to meet them?”
“Seriously, mum, do you think your son needs to reduce himself to going on blind dates?” Lu Chuiqing says, “I will definitely bring back a partner, but now is not the time.”
In late July, many big corporations have started their fall recruitment. Lu Chuiqing first went to Zhong Ming Funding’s official website and uploaded his resume. As for his desired departments, he chose the investment and research department with no hesitation.
Although Zhong Ming Funding is his first choice, he understands the importance of applying for several different companies when job hunting. Other than Zhong Ming Funding, Lu Chuiqing also applied to several other funding, financial security and banking companies.
Lu Chuiqing is both nervous and expectant. As he is so used to a busy life for the past two years, Lu Chuiqing cannot help but keep himself busy by examining and familiarising himself with practice questions for different companies’ written examinations.
As August passes, Lu Chuiqing receives invitations to the second round of written examinations from the companies he applied for. Zhong Ming Funding is one of them.
Lu Chuiqing is overjoyed. He rolls in his bed excitedly, opening his email inbox every other minute just to look at the invitation again, afraid that he might have missed out on any words.
On the day of Zhong Ming Funding’s written exam, Lu Chuiqing idly chats with other examinees and realises that there are some fresh postgraduates, just like him. They most likely have the lowest academic qualifications out of all the other examinees. Most of them have either completed their doctoral degree or have already been working in their professions.
While the examination is not that difficult for someone who has completed his CPA certifications, it includes some questions that require some knowledge and understanding of certain job positions within the corporation. Given that Lu Chuiqing has done ample research and preparation on the industry, he is confident of getting decent results. And as expected, Lu Chuiqing receives an official invitation to Zhong Ming Funding’s first interview in early September.
Lu Chuiqing could not fall asleep that night. For the first time after a long while, he felt the urge to cry.
There were times he wanted to cry in these two years, but that was mostly because of exhaustion and the intense stress that was suffocating him. And sometimes, it was because of his thoughts of Chen Yuan.
The photo of Chen Yuan that Zhou Ruiyang sent him during his study project is still saved on his mobile phone. He would look at it every day in the beginning, but as he got busier, the times he would look at the photo also decreased.
Chen Yuan has gradually become someone he treasures, someone he is grateful towards, but no longer a part of his life. He had never thought of pursuing his own goals in life in the past. Lu Chuiqing’s world was too small, he was too reliant on Chen Yuan and his world could only hold Chen Yuan’s love for him.
But it is different now.
In mid-September, Lu Chuiqing attends Zhong Ming Funding’s interview. Mama Lu calls him a few cities away, sobbing, and wishes him all the best for his interview.
Although Lu Chuiqing’s interview starts at two in the afternoon, he arrives at the Zhong Ming Funding’s headquarters early. Before stepping into the huge office building, Lu Chuiqing turns around and looks at the rows of majestic and refined commercial office buildings that filled the streets.
This is the city’s core financial and banking district. The streets are bustling with activities, people with different expressions walking through the streets; some are walking with light steps filled with energy, while others are in a haste and have their faces filled with anxiousness.
Every single one here is working hard for themselves. Lu Chuiqing knows very clearly how this industry works; the winner stays. After over two years of hard work, Lu Chuiqing has finally arrived at this point. He has tried his very best until now, and will never regret his own decisions.
Lu Chuiqing takes a deep breath, fixes his attire and turns back. He takes big steps forward and never turned back again.
Four months later.
As one of the landmarks of the city of finance, City S, the Three Floral Leaves International Hotel (三花叶国际酒店) is a five-star hotel that stands tall in the city’s central business district. Three Floral Leaves Hotel has always been the venue for the yearly end-of-year gathering event for all the big financial and banking companies.
And this year, all of Three Floral Leaves Hotel’s clubhouses and conference halls are fully booked by Zhong Ming Funding’s CEO Fang. It is Zhong Ming Funding’s official event venue for its fourteenth annual meeting.
Fang Jiaming has always been a generous person. All employees of Zhong Ming are always conveniently involved in such yearly events, giving them ample opportunities to show off to their friends and relatives.
After several rounds of speeches and entertainment programs, Fang Jiaming gives the employees free time to eat, drink, go to the clubhouses, or even go home. Fang Jiaming then sits together with his son, Fang Shaojun, seemingly waiting for someone.
Lu Chuiqing was urged by his project leader to drink. He is the type to get flushed whenever he consumes alcohol and has already turned red after two glasses. Combined with his naturally small stature, Lu Chuiqing evokes the maternal instincts of their female manager from the investment department, who desperately wants to pinch his cheeks right now.
Lu Chuiqing entered the company last December. He has been working for the investment department for a bit over a month. He is also one of the very few fresh graduates that Zhong Ming Funding has hired from the fall recruitment drive.
The research work involved in this department is complicated and delicate. Lu Chuiqing was steadfast in his research work. He has familiarised himself with the daily, weekly, as well as analysis reports. As someone who has only just entered the company, he has done very well for his first appraisal.
Belonging to the same project research team, Song Wenxin has also joined the company last year. He is three years older than Lu Chuiqing and is one of the researchers from another company who has changed jobs to work for Zhang Ming Funding.
Song Wenxin glances in Fang Jiaming’s direction from time to time. He cannot hold in his curiosity and asks, “Leader, who is CEO Fang and Young Master Fang waiting for?”
The leader replies, “CEO Xiao, obviously.”
Song Wenxin asks, “CEO Xiao? Which CEO Xiao?”
“CEO Fang’s nephew, the CEO of Value Scan. There is no way you don’t know him. He is pretty famous in the industry.” The leader continues, “From what I know, CEO Fang has always invited CEO Xiao to attend this event every year. You guys have probably never met him before, right?”
As the leader finishes his sentence, a slim and long silhouette enters the conference hall. Lu Chuiqing looks over curiously.
Xiao Zhan has a slim figure, wide shoulders with a narrow waist, and his brows so delicate as if they were carved out by a burin. He has delicate facial features and a defined facial silhouette, complimenting and further enhancing his natural charisma and appeal as an alpha. He has an indifferent expression on his face, with just a little hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, but even that is enough to intoxicate. Xiao Zhan is the embodiment of a languid, arrogant black leopard.
He has the calmness and wisdom that only a capitalist would have, and an overbearing aura that no one can ignore.
Lu Chuiqing has initially considered Value Scan as one of his choices, especially given that his educational background is more suitable for auditing and accounting-related work. But due to his complex and unexplainable stubbornness towards the funding industry, Lu Chuiqing was determined to enter Zhong Ming Funding and stuck with his decision till the end.
Looking at Xiao Zhan now, he is relieved that he did not choose to go to Value Scan. His aura is not something a normal person can endure. Lu Chuiqing has doubts on whether he can talk to him properly under his overbearing aura.
Accompanying Xiao Zhan is a twenty-something years old young male wearing a black floral shirt. He looks delicate and pretty, holding onto Xiao Zhan’s arm affectionately while wearing a black decorative collar which is uncommon in a formal business function.
Song Wenxin tries to glance over from the corner of his eyes but is immediately overwhelmed by Xiao Zhan’s aura. He pulls back, and gossips, “Leader, is that CEO Xiao’s boyfriend?”
The leader laughs and replies, “Of course not, it is not surprising for people like CEO Xiao to have one or two escorts.”
Realmente por accidente encontré la novela. Me encanta todo de ella
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