Chapter 18
Translator: Aafkee
Proofreader: Superclubs2
Although it does not specify what the congratulation is for, Lu Chuiqing knows that Xiao Zhan is referring to how the stocks he was responsible for were chosen, as well as his new opportunity as a group leader.
Lu Chuiqing finds it difficult to describe how he feels at that moment. It was only a simple word of congratulations, but he feels as if the door to his heart is forced open, a hint of unexplainable bitterness and joy mixed with his heartbeat. He has never felt this way before, not even during his time with Chen Yuan.
Seeing that Lu Chuiqing has only been staring and not signing for the flower, the delivery man asks, puzzled, “Sir?”
Lu Chuiqing regains his senses, signs and accepts the flower without thinking. Only after returning inside the building, does he gradually feel hesitation and regret.
He should not have accepted Xiao Zhan’s flower, especially because he has already come clean with Xiao Zhan regarding his stance. It is one thing for Xiao Zhan not to give up, but he, at least should not accept gifts from the other party as if it is nothing after rejecting him.
However, every time Lu Chuiqing thinks about how the flower would be returned to the flower shop if he is to reject it, he finds it hard to bear. Not because of how expensive the flower is, but because of the fact that it is a gift from Xiao Zhan.
The delivery man has probably notified Xiao Zhan about the receipt. It only makes things worse if he pretends it did not happen, so Lu Chuiqing can only pull himself together and thank Xiao Zhan.
Lu Chuiqing sends Xiao Zhan a message, “CEO Xiao, thank you very much for the flower, it is beautiful.”
After the first message, he adds another one, “However, there is no need for you to spend money on me anymore, I feel very apologetic for receiving.”
Lu Chuiqing takes a deep breath, puts down his phone and returns back to his home. He puts the box on the window sill once inside after taking out the card. He stands in the middle of his room and has a look around, finally deciding to place the card on his computer desk right next to the desk lamp.
After July, the university has a few short holidays. Instead of visiting his family this holiday, Guan Xiaoluo decided to intern at a talent recruitment service company nearby to kill time.
Since his argument with his boyfriend during the Labour Day holidays, Guan Xiaoluo and his boyfriend had barely talked to each other for half a month. His boyfriend indeed felt guilty, even apologising and admitting to his mistakes with sincerity. Guan Xiaoluo finally softens up, blaming the boss instead of his boyfriend.
Lu Chuiqing has been in a splendid mood for the whole week. The two stocks that have passed the preliminary round seem to be doing very well. It is almost certain that those two stocks will be entering the company’s funding pool, even his manager has many praises and encouragements for him.
Even the usual Monday blues are gone. Lu Chuiqing, who is sitting at his work desk in the office, seems to be radiating energy.
On the other hand, his tablemate, Song Wenxin, is the complete opposite. Song Wenxin has been yawning non-stop the whole morning, only looking much more awake after he checks his phone for messages during his break.
Song Wenxin’s eyes were wide open, his face filled with shock as he stared at his phone which had his WeChat message up. There is a hint of joy in his sudden energy as if he has just listened to good gossip. Curious, Lu Chuiqing asks, “What’s wrong?”
Song Wenxin was about to open his mouth when he recalled his current location. Afraid that the manager might catch him gossiping, he whispers to Lu Chuiqing mysteriously, “I’ll tell you later during our lunch break.”
Once lunchtime arrives, Song Wenxin impatiently pulls Lu Chuiqing with him to the pantry and gossips excitedly, “I’ll tell you but you better not tell others. I heard from my friend from the bonds funding department, that there is a researcher that entered the company last year just got fired!”
“Huh?” Lu Chuiqing asks, astonished, “Why?”
Song Wenxin leans in and whispers, “Apparently, she slept with Young Master Fang and asked him to tell her department manager to look after her, saying that she’ll treat the manager to a meal or something. CEO Fang ended up getting a whiff of this and he was outraged. He even called Young Master Fang to the company and gave him two slaps without a single word, even his tea set was smashed. They could hear the noise even outside the office.”
“With Young Master Fang?!” Lu Chuiqing’s eyes go wide open. He quickly lowers his volume, “Really? She’s already fired?”
“Yeah! Zhong Ming is such a big company, they must be experienced in sorting out this kind of thing. The HR department got the procedures for employment termination done immediately. They even sent out the notice and had a lawyer come talk to her about it. If she leaks this incident out, it is considered defamation of the company. They gave her enough face by paying her the compensation for her length of service, so what else does she have to say? The position is already open this morning.”
Lu Chuiqing can not help but sigh internally after hearing about it.
“But it is indeed Young Master Fang’s fault for not thinking it through thoroughly before his actions.” Song Wenxin continues ruefully, “Doesn’t he know that his dad hates this kind of drama? Yes, he is the young master, but Zhong Ming Funding is ultimately his father’s company. Did he really think he has the last say regarding who to promote in the company? Isn’t it obvious? And yet, those managers disregarded CEO Fang and went to lick Young Master Fang’s boots, seriously… If this is in the past, she has literally the subject that disregards the King to bootlick the Prince.”
This incident reminded Lu Chuiqing of his conversation with Xiao Zhan in the hotel during his business trip last time. It seems like it is true that CEO Fang hates such things very much.
Fortunately, such dishonest practices are not effective everywhere, which makes it fair for the majority of the others.
Fang Jiaming has indeed been extremely angered. He and his wife have been working so hard, with honesty, for several decades. The more honest they are, the more they look down on those who rely on dishonest ways to get their way up, especially those who treat this industry as a game of fame and profit, playing around with the unwritten rules.
Fang Jiaming thought that since Fang Shaojun is his son, he could at least be influenced by him and understands this principle. Who would have imagined for his son to have done exactly what he hates the most?
Fang Shaojun was called by Fang Jiaming to stop by the office. He was rendered completely speechless after those two slaps from his father. In his opinion, it was not much of a big deal for him to screw with one of his father’s employees. Asking the manager to look after that employee is literally as easy as his father saying one sentence and asking for it to be done.
To his surprise, disregarding his father, even the manager did not give him any face. The manager even promised to get it sorted out for him while smiling, and then turned around and told Fang Jiaming everything!
“Good, very good, extremely good! You could have spent the time learning something practical, to better yourself, but no! You just gotta stir up such disgusting drama!” Fang Jiaming is so angry that he slams the tea set on the floor, the fragments falling all over. His face is flushed red as he points his finger at Fang Shaojun, “Get the hell out! Get out!”
Feeling resentful and wronged, Fang Shaojun’s face turns gloomy. He turns around, walks over the broken tea set and walks straight out of the office, closing the door behind him with a loud slam.
Fang Jiaming’s lips tremble as he watches Fang Shaojun walk out of the office. He ends up sitting down on the chair with a hint of exhaustion on his face, letting out a deep sigh as he creases his brows with distress and worry.
At about seven in the evening, a black limousine slowly stops in a car park of a traditional roasted duck restaurant. Xiao Zhan alights the car.
He walks into the restaurant, going straight to the private room on the second floor.
Fang Jiaming is sitting alone and drinking tea in the room. He is wearing a casual polo shirt, his jacket on the sofa. His face is filled with worry, only showing a smile when he lifts his head and sees Xiao Zhan. However, there is still a hint of exhaustion in his smile.
Fang Jiaming, “Ah-Zhan, sit. Have a chat with me.”
Xiao Zhan has already heard about Fang Shaojun’s incident from his aunt. Yesterday, Fang Shaojun did not return home after leaving Zhong Ming. His aunt has called for people to look for him at his accommodation, but he is nowhere to be found. Even Junyuan Wealth’s employees said that their boss has not returned.
His aunt has called Fang Shaojun’s phone several times, but he hung up on every single call, angering his parents greatly.
Without any other alternatives, his aunt could only give Xiao Zhan a call, asking him to be mindful and contact them immediately if Xiao-Jun ever contacts him.
Although that is what they said, Xiao Zhan knows that there is no way Fang Shaojun will take the initiative to contact him.
Xiao Zhan undoes the two buttons on his suit jacket and sits opposite Fang Jiaming, the latter can not help but jokes, “Do you have to dress up so nicely for a casual meal with me? You sure like taking care of yourself, huh?”
Xiao Zhan smiles lightly, “I got used to it.”
Fang Jiaming smiles in return, but his smile gradually disappears. He takes a sip of tea and sighs, “I can’t think of anyone else to talk to, so I can only trouble you again.”
Fang Jiaming and Xiao Zhan’s mother, Fang Yuehuai, are really close siblings. Although Fang Jiaming has other nieces and nephews, he especially likes Xiao Zhan because he has always been bright since young.
When Fang Yuehuai and Xiao Zhan’s father, Xiao Hongguang, were still together, the two families lived really close together, so Xiao Zhan often went to his uncle’s house to play. He has always treated Xiao Zhan like his own son.
After that, Fang Yuehuai and Xiao Zhan’s father divorced and started living separately when he was seven, and the custody went to his father. Xiao Zhan’s father remarried not long after and had a son and daughter with his new partner.
Without Fang Yuehuai to maintain the relationship between the families, the Fang and Xiao families gradually grew apart. Although Fang Jiaming avoided and ignored the Xiao family’s existence, his relationship with Xiao Zhan remains intimate.
Fang Jiaming has always wanted his son to get along well with Xiao Zhan. Most likely due to jealousy he has developed over his childhood years, in addition to his hate towards having his father snatched away, Fang Shaojun has always disliked Xiao Zhan very much all these years.
Hearing Fang Jiaming’s words, Xiao Zhan’s smile fades slightly and asks, “Have you gotten a hold on Xiao-Jun?”
“Not yet! Who knows where that brat has been screwing around every day! It is the company’s anniversary celebration soon, and there he is, creating unnecessary drama! This incident has probably been spread around the company already, so should I even ask him to come back for the celebration?” Fang Jiaming can not help but get angry all over again, his brows crease deeply. He continues, disappointed and frustrated, “I sometimes wonder if it is me and his mother’s fault for using the wrong teaching method. How is it that he ends up with such a personality? I even wanted him to get along better with you-”
“Uncle,” Xiao Zhan interrupts, “Maybe you should stop mentioning me in front of Xiao-Jun.”
Fang Jiaming’s expression darkens. It is not like he has not reflected on his teaching methods regarding whether or not it is suitable for Xiao-Jun. But judging from the current situation, it is definitely producing the opposite of the desired result.
“Ah-Zhan, I know Xiao-Jun will face some pressure when I compare him with you, but who doesn’t have a bit of pressure living in this society? Who isn’t being compared to others every single moment?” Fang Jiaming sighs, “I have initially thought that my own son would reflect on himself when he realises his shortcomings as compared to others. To learn from others, to learn from you, and try his best to produce some results! If I knew that he has such a personality at first, only filled with jealousy and always assuming that I’m biased towards you, I would have made sure he is nowhere near you since young to avoid him getting so triggered!”
“Xiao-Jun is still young,” Xiao Zhan says plainly, “There is no rush.”
“Young? How is he still young! He’s almost twenty-six! When I was his age, I had already been working for many years!” Fang Jiaming knocks on the table with his knuckles angrily, “I’m going to visit your mum at D City next weekend. I’m going to consult her about how the heck did she teach you!”
Xiao Zhan, “I’ll go with you, I’m free next weekend.”
“Good, that works perfectly.” Fang Jiaming nods and continues, “I’m going to make Xiao-Jun go on blind dates. I’ll make sure he gets engaged within two years, it is time for him to settle down.”
Xiao Zhan, “Xiao-Jun probably won’t like it, why not let him find it for himself?”
“Since when did I not let him find for himself? But look at all those people he had found for himself!” Fang Jiaming shakes his head, “I’m not young anymore, it’s not like I want to involve myself in such a thing either! Or rather, it’s embarrassing for me! Ah-Zhan, do you know anyone with a good temper, doesn’t like to screw around, has motivation and ambition, someone who can help Xiao-Jun? If you see anyone suitable, can you introduce them to Xiao-Jun.”
Xiao Zhan laughs softly, not saying another word.
Fang Jiaming, do you see your son's future spouse as a crutch for him to lean on? Why should an innocent, bright and hardworking person sacrifice their future to keep that worthless fuerdai in check?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chapter ��
Precisely my thought omg. Please don't get an innocent person involved, that good-for-nothing son is not worth it... 😢😢
Deleteoops someone must have flashed in the mind of CEO Xiao~ hahahaha thank u for the chapter!!
ReplyDelete