Chapter 19
Translator: Aafkee
Proofreader: Superclubs2
Lu Chuiqing stares at his monitor drowsily. His monitor is filled with the charts and seasonal reports of a few stocks. He supports his head with his hand, his eyelids growing heavy but his hand remains diligent as he tries his best to take notes.
It is now about half-past eleven at night. As Lu Chuiqing’s research group has a presentation to present a summary of their findings next week, he has a lot of data on hand that needs organisation, he has to sacrifice his rest time to work overtime.
Only, he is too sleepy now. The arm that has been supporting his head slips, the back of his hand accidentally touching the desk lamp’s switch, causing the light to flicker and woke Lu Chuiqing just a tiny bit. He lifts his head and happens to see the card that is placed near the base of the desk lamp.
Looking at the word “Congratulations” written by domineering but beautiful handwriting, Lu Chuiqing starts to daydream. After pulling himself together, Lu Chuiqing takes a deep breath. Since his working efficiency isn’t high anyway, he might as well rest early.
He pats his cheeks, turns off the computer and desk lamp, and stretches himself.
Under Lu Chuiqing’s careful preparations, his group is making very good progress with their report this week. Analysts from another funding company that is involved in some collaboration projects, and some other managers who sat in to listen to his presentation, gave him a rather high evaluation. All in all, it was a successful first task assigned to him as a group leader.
Zhong Ming Funding will be celebrating its fifteenth anniversary in early August. The company has started getting ready for its anniversary celebrations and activities. The itinerary is very grand and many well-known corporation executives and senior management are invited to attend.
Everyone in the company is looking forward to it. Not only can they take the chance to relax, but it is also a good opportunity for them to meet the big shots from the industry who they will never get to meet in normal circumstances.
After Song Wenxin got to know this year’s guest list, he and Lu Chuiqing could not help but be impressed. There is so much to talk about regarding their past achievements, Song Wenxin’s and Lu Chuiqing’s faces are filled with admiration and respect.
“Hey, do you know Guo Chongren? The person who increased his profits from one million to eighty million from his rubber future contracts*? He’s coming too.” Song Wenxin tutted, “He is only in his early thirties. He is apparently also CEO Xiao’s old classmate and has recently started to give lectures about future contracts too. These people are just so naturally good. I wouldn’t dare to invest in future contracts even if I was given money.”
(T/N*: “Future contracts - a legal agreement to buy or sell a particular commodity asset, or security at a predetermined price at a specified time in the future. - retrieved from Investopedia)
Lu Chuiqing’s knowledge of future contracts is very shallow, he has no intention of investing in it either, especially given its high risk. It is difficult for anyone to undertake such risks under normal circumstances. But hearing Song Wenxin’s mention of Xiao Zhan, he can not help but recall the last time he met Xiao Zhan. It has already been two months.
Xiao Zhan, without a doubt, will be attending Zhong Ming Funding’s anniversary celebration. Lu Chuiqing nods and agrees along with what Song Wenxin is saying, but his heart is already somewhere else, thinking about Xiao Zhan.
Song Wenxin, “...don’t you think so?”
Lu Chuiqing collects his thoughts and asks blankly, “Hm?”
“I’m saying, small employees like us are only attending the anniversary celebration to serve as props on the side, right?” Song Wenxin does not really mind Lu Chuiqing’s mind wandering and continues, “The company I was in previously? They even arranged for people to accompany and play with those bosses during their anniversary celebration sometimes… Sigh, forget it. Let’s not talk about it, the more I talk about it, the more difficult it is to bear.”
Lu Chuiqing can kind of guess what he is getting at, but he can only lift the corners of his lips helplessly.
On the day of the anniversary celebration, other than the employees involved in the preparation and process of the celebration, everyone else in the company is given half a day of holiday that morning and only has to arrive at the event destination at two in the afternoon. When Lu Chuiqing arrived at the event hall, there were already many people at their seats, chatting while waiting for the event to start.
Song Wenxin walks up to Lu Chuiqing and calls for him. As it is a celebration today, there is no need for them to dress too formally. Song Wenxin has especially dressed in a red checkered suit today and even spent some effort in taking care of his hair just to look good for today’s photo-taking session.
“Well, the photo will be displayed on the display board.” Song Wenxin pats on Lu Chuiqing’s shoulder as he smiles, “I’m not like you, my friend. I can’t become the centre of attention just by randomly taking care of my appearance.”
Lu Chuiqing pursed his lips and laughed, embarrassed.
The celebration starts at three sharp. The guests arrive one after another, and the new employees are all seated towards the back of the event hall. Song Wenxin tries to glance sneakily at the side of the event hall where the guest passage is while expressing his amazement at the same time.
Fang Jiaming stands up among the other executives, walks to the stage and starts his speech regarding the company’s recent achievements and the vision he has for the company in the future. During the speech, Lu Chuiqing tries to look at the guests’ seating area. He spots Fang Shaojun sitting on the right side of CEO Fang while Madam Fang is seated on the left side. Another person is seated on the other side of Madam Fang.
Although that person has his back towards him, Lu Chuiqing can still recognise Xiao Zhan.
He is wearing a light khaki coloured suit that is rarely seen on him, making him seem less cold and unapproachable as compared to when he was wearing a dark coloured suit while at the same time, giving him an image of being refined yet charming and easy-going.
Besides Xiao Zhan, the other guests are all seated in another row especially for guests. Only Xiao Zhan is sitting right next to the Fang family. Just from this, it is obvious how much respect and trust the Fang couple has for Xiao Zhan.
“Hey, look at the guest's seating area, second one from the left.” Song Wenxin leans in and whispers to Lu Chuiqing, “That’s the master of future contracts I told you about the other day, Teacher Guo.”
Lu Chuiqing tilts his head and looks over, Teacher Guo’s black hair reflecting the bright light from the spotlight on the ceiling.
Since Guo Chongren and Xiao Zhan were classmates, they must be about the same age. As compared to Xiao Zhan’s dark black hair that is worthy of envy, Guo Chengren’s reflective hair looks especially eye-catching.
Lu Chuiqing withdraws and whispers, “He must have been very tired…”
Song Wenxin, “That’s for sure. It takes at least three years if you’re investing in future contracts. Although it seems grand on the surface, those who invest in future contracts probably have so much stress that they have to rely on antidepressants or something. I’d say baldness is probably considered trivial.”
It is about six in the evening when all the celebration’s programs are done and everyone starts to move towards the banquet hall for their meal. The company’s core executive personnel and guests are seated at two tables, their happy chatters can be heard even from afar.
Lu Chuiqing looks over at the guests’ table from a distance and sees Xiao Zhan still sitting right next to the Fang family. He is wearing a brown checkered vest paired with a white shirt inside his suit jacket, accompanied by the graceful Windsor knot. At this moment, he is looking down at his plate while cutting his lamb steak.
Just by merely sitting there, he looks strict yet handsome, worthy of everyone’s admiration and attention.
Fang Shaojun is sitting next to Fang Jiamin, his lips tightly pursed, his face filled with hints of impatience and unhappiness. He is drinking alcohol nonstop, refusing to participate in any conversations with his father or others, as if he was forced to be present.
Just then, Xiao Zhan lifts his eyes by chance. Lu Chuiqing quickly looks away, lowers his head and takes a mouthful of his soup. Beside him, Song Wenxin supports his head with his hand as he sighs, “How I wish I can get to know those bosses over there. Such a rare opportunity.”
Lu Chuiqing has the same thought, but they are only normal employees. The only time they can get close to those people is probably when everyone has to go over and give them a toast, in accordance with their usual practice. It is almost impossible for them to have a proper conversation with those people with high capabilities and statuses, or rather, they may not even care enough to make a conversation.
Just as Lu Chuiqing thought that, Assistant Manager Qian walks over all of a sudden and calls out, “Xiao-Song, Xiao-Lu, I’m going to greet a few of the managers I know. Come with me.”
Lu Chuiqing and Song Wenxin are both stunned momentarily. They look at each other and can see the surprise in each other’s eyes.
They understand that Assistant Manager Qian has intentions to give them a chance of showing their faces in front of those bosses. It is not an exaggeration to say that this chance is extremely hard to come by. The two stand up immediately and express their gratitude. They then tidy up their outfit and gather themselves.
Assistant Manager Qian gives them a smile. She has always been quite fond of these two new employees. As their superior, she, of course, wants her subordinates to remember what she has done for them. She is very willing to do such things to help them, especially when it doesn’t cost her much of anything.
Both Lu Chuiqing and Song Wenxin follow closely behind Assistant Manager Qian nervously. She points towards one of the guests’ tables and indicates, “That is Bo Da Material’s General Manager. You guys know Bo Da Materials, right? A listed company that focuses on composite materials.”
Lu Chuiqing and Song Wenxin nod immediately. As researchers, it is necessary for them to have a good understanding of all the leading stocks in the market. Besides, due to other reasons, Lu Chuiqing has always been paying extra attention to that particular stock.
Assistant Manager Qian walks up to the table, smiles and toasts. She then introduces Xiao-Lu and Xiao-Song as her department’s researchers simply while the two greet and toasts respectfully and politely, hoping to give these executives a good impression of themselves.
Assistant Manager Qian and the General Manager of Bo Da Materials chatted happily for a while when another woman who was impeccably dressed in a suit walked over with a smile. She appears to be an acquaintance of them. Listening to the conversation between the three of them, Lu Chuiqing hears that the woman is apparently an executive from Shuo Zheng Accounting Firm.
Shuo Zheng Accounting Firm?
For some reason, an unclear memory flashes through Lu Chuiqing’s mind. It was a fleeting thought, disappearing before Lu Chuiqing could try to catch on to it.
However, when he looked at the General Manager of Bo Da Materials again, he was reminded of a breaking news in the industry from several years ago.
He finally recalls why he has always felt a sense of familiarity with Bo Da Materials.
It was an extremely shocking funding counterfeit incident by a listed company. Bo Da Materials Private Limited was reported to have a cash holding capacity of over fourteen billion dollars. Under that condition, they had unexpectedly breached a short-term bond financing contract with only worthed two billion dollars.
They had over fourteen billion dollars in their hands and yet, they could not pay their two billion dollars debt.
What was even more shocking, is that under the Securities Regulatory Commission and the independent board members’ interrogation, the company claimed that all the cash was deposited in the bank but when checked, the amount left in Bo Da Materials’ company bank account was zero.
The fourteen billion dollars were gone, just like that.
Soon after, the company’s independent board members issued a statement, stating their suspicion of Bo Da Materials’ controlling shareholder violating the rules by signing an agreement for joint funding management, allowing the Bo Da corporation and the shareholder to have personal access to the listed company’s assets, inflating the company’s profit, opening up more backhanded opportunities for themselves.
It is extremely complicated to find a standardisation for the collation of the fundings and calculation of the balance for joint account management. This was how the company had a false image of having tens of billions in their account while in reality, the company’s cash had already become one with the stockholder’s personal account and the balance had been transferred over.
At the same time, the accounting firm that was responsible for auditing Bo Da’s annual report had ceased trading immediately for investigation due to their failure to indicate an appropriate conclusion with their audit, causing an immense loss for the market’s investors.
And that accounting firm was Shuo Zheng Accounting Firm.
Lu Chuiqing is shocked. He quickly tries to recall when the incident took place. After recalling the details of the incident, his memory is much clearer. He clearly remembers that his father-in-law had just gone through an appendicitis surgery not long after the news broke out. If memory serves him right, it should be in late November.
It was during his second year of marriage with Chen Yuan in his previous life, which means the incident will happen this year in his current life.
Lu Chuiqing’s thoughts are fully immersed into thinking about the incident as he racks his brains and tries to recall as many details as possible. He only happened to see the news that time and he did not pay it any extra attention.
Assistant Manager Qian looks around her and asks, “How come I don’t see Manager Chen?”
The executive from Shuo Zheng Accounting Firm replies, “He went to the toilet, he should be back in a bit… Ah, there he is.”
The unhurried steps of soft leather shoes against the carpeted floor can be heard behind them. Assistant Manager Qian quickly walks over and greets the new addition, “It has been a long time, Manager Chen. Please excuse me for not coming over earlier to greet you.”
Lu Chuiqing gets back his composure and turns around with Assistant Manager Qian, lifting his head.
At that very moment, the smile that is already on his face freezes for a split second. Shocked, he stares blankly at the man standing behind him.
It is the exact same face that exists in his memory, smiling, charming, and gentle.
In his heart, the glass castle, formed by his unforgettable feelings, cracked slightly. The memories crash into him in huge waves, every wave representing each time he had struggled or felt touched in his previous life.
Chen Yuan is dressed in a low-profile yet stylish dark grey suit, currently smiling at Assistant Manager Qian, “You are being too modest.”
A familiar voice he has not heard for three years rushes into Lu Chuiqing’s ears, as warm and pleasant to listen to as it was last time. Lu Chuiqing’s body trembles slightly, the memory of him sitting alone at the bar before the car accident flashes across his mind. The him who was pregnant with Chen Yuan’s child, the him who felt lost regarding the future and life he should have.
Assistant Manager Qian introduces simply, “Xiao-Lu, Xiao-Song, this is the Business Administrative Department’s Manager Chen from Sheng An Insurance’s China branch.”
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Translator’s note:
As usual, I apologise if there are any inaccuracies in my translations, especially those financial and stock-related terms.
Poor Li Chuiqing - even so many years later he can't leave the past in the past... Or is it that his past doesn't let go of him? Be it as it may, I hope he'll survive the ordeal. Maybe Xiao Zhan will help him?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chapter ❤
I am interested in how he would completely get over his hurt and move on with Xiao Zhan too. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! xx
Deleteomg, he again met his past hubby!! hopefully this can be a way for him to completely let go~ thank u for the update!!
ReplyDelete