As she watched Pan Yingchun say goodbye and leave, she picked up the phone, dialed a number, and said in a soft, gentle voice, unlike her usual decisive tone, "Xiao Gong? Yes, it's me. Are you free for a while the day after tomorrow? Hmm, sure, I'll pick you up. There are some things I want to discuss with you. Okay, let's talk when we meet." After hanging up, she picked up the photos scattered on the table, looked at Gong Chao's strong and powerful arm, and couldn't help but purse her lips slightly, her eyebrows and eyes full of smiles.
On Friday, Lin Weiping had many things to discuss with Shang Kun. Around 3 PM, she grabbed her laptop and relevant documents and drove to a resort by a reservoir in the suburbs. There, she found fresh river fish, clean air, and a spacious terrace facing the reservoir. Lin Weiping decided that no matter where Shang Kun went, she would stay there for the night before returning home. However, learning from past experience, she took several detours on and off the highway, making sure no one was following her before heading straight to the resort. When she arrived at the suite Shang Kun had booked, she was just in time to see the sunset, birds returning to their nests, and the forests ablaze with color. The beautiful scenery made it impossible for the two of them to discuss serious work; instead, they stood there silently, basking in the evening breeze.
Yu Fengmian ended the meeting with the planning bureau official with a smile, left the important department without any regret, and drove home humming "Seeing the Smoke Again," in a style reminiscent of Faye Wong.
She quickly took a shower, scrutinizing her delicate skin—pink from the hot water—in front of the full-length mirror. Thirty-seven, an age when youth fades for a woman, unless she spent a fortune to reclaim it, she could only lament the passing of time. She had that ability now; the skin in the mirror was even better than seven years ago, when she was just starting out. The scorching sun on the construction site, the swirling dust, the worries about funding shortages, the daily interactions with powerful clients, the intrusion of alcohol and cigarettes, and the disappointments in her love life—no one could tell she was over thirty; everyone treated it with a perfectly normal attitude. She was indeed a middle-aged woman running a small real estate company that was on the verge of bankruptcy and had just been separated from the government's tertiary industry. This kind of situation wasn't uncommon, and at the time, not many people were optimistic about her, including her ex-husband, who left her with their child after years of being neglected by his busy wife. But she made it through with her wisdom, and now, in the real estate industry, her name is well-known and respected. Her son, whom she had once barely recognized, has had a wonderful mother-son relationship thanks to her lavish gifts and her sending him to study abroad. However, after years of being alone in her comforts, she still thought about love again.
Seeing Gong Chao was like experiencing a warm spring day; even without air conditioning, the indoor temperature was just right. This young man possessed a strong scholarly air, an elegant and humorous manner, and a touch of naive chivalry. Whether it was because she had a good impression of him or for some other reason, Yu Fengmian greatly admired all his designs and subsequently kept a close eye on Gong Chao's designs for all her properties. The news of Gong Chao's award soon followed, filling her with inexplicable joy. In a real estate advertisement, she instructed her staff to add the line, "Designed by Mr. Gong Chao, winner of [award name]," unaware of how much benefit her project gained from this statement. Gong Chao, however, rose to fame in the real estate industry, becoming a representative of the new generation of fashionable lifestyle designers. Gong Chao was naturally very grateful, treating her like an older sister in public and private. However, Yu Fengmian was very sensitive to the word "older sister," her feelings only surfacing slightly in the dead of night when she was alone, clutching her blanket.
The woman in the mirror hadn't changed much in figure yet; those who knew her said she looked younger and younger. But only she knew that the bulge in her lower abdomen just wouldn't go down, and her breasts were starting to sag. However, nothing is impossible; wearing high-waisted corset pants, no one could tell. She hadn't blow-dried her hair; a little gel was pulled up to her slightly wavy, damp hair, and it was held up with a simple hair tie. It looked very casual, but it was a refined casualness. Those who knew her could tell what brand the hair tie was and how much it cost. Her seemingly unremarkable cotton shirt was the brand of one that could support an ordinary family of three comfortably for a month. She had put a lot of thought into this outfit last night, even more effort than preparing for her meeting with the planning bureau official today.
Although the days in September were still scorching, a cool autumn breeze could be felt by evening. Since Gong Chao liked it, he drove his convertible Lotus along the seaside boulevard, and Yu Fengmian willingly became his beautiful lady. The sun set behind the mountains, making the sea shimmer with golden light. While it was still a little light, Yu Fengmian took out a stack of photos from her bag and said very sincerely to Gong Chao, "Little Gong, I remember you mentioned you had a girlfriend named Lin Weiping, right?"
Upon hearing Lin Weiping mentioned, Gong Chao's face lit up with joy, and he excitedly said, "Yes, we've been together these past few days. She went to see the new house I designed and decorated yesterday and was very satisfied. I'm even happier that she's happy." He was so preoccupied with Lin Weiping's every smile and gesture that he didn't notice the slight distortion on Yu Fengmian's face as she listened to this.
But Yu Fengmian quickly covered it up, pausing for a moment before clearing her throat and saying, "The reason I asked you out today is this. My cousin is going through a divorce. She's very upset that a couple who've been loving for so many years could just end like this, so she hired someone to follow her husband. They actually found out what was going on. Her husband meets with a girl regularly, rain or shine. I was curious and looked at the photos she had someone secretly take, and I even know the girl's name. Well, I guess I was being nosy, but... never mind, you can see for yourself. Their dates are every Friday. But don't worry, I went to great lengths to get these photos from her; they won't be leaked."
Seeing Yu Fengmian's hesitant manner, Gong Chao sensed that this matter was definitely related to Lin Weiping. His heart sank. He hesitated to take the stack of photos Yu Fengmian pulled out, but instinctively, he saw Lin Weiping's face in the front of one. Unable to resist, he snatched it away. He smiled after just one glance, saying, "President Yu, that man with his back turned is me! Haha, I want these photos. I want to keep them as a memento. That day was a turning point in my relationship with Weiping. This stalker actually helped me out by accident." But after speaking for a while, seeing Yu Fengmian remain silent, and looking up at him with a thoughtful yet somewhat pitying gaze, he was startled and flipped through the photos again. The next few were still photos of him and Lin Weiping in the underground parking garage that day, but who was the man who was helping Lin Weiping out of the car? Ah, there's a side profile photo here; it seems to be a middle-aged man, his gaze fixed intently on Lin Weiping. Gong Chao looked at the photos in one go, closed them, slumped in his car seat, closed his eyes, and his mind was a complete mess. Yes, it was Friday. Lin Weiping always said she had something to do every Friday. Could it be that she was going to meet that man? Right, today is also Friday, and she said she had something to do too. Could she be in that man's arms right now?
Her eyes stung, and her heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. She didn't know if it was pain or soreness. Her eyelids were so heavy she could barely lift them, and it took her a long time to muster the strength to speak: "That man, who is he?" Yu Fengmian felt a pang of sadness looking at Gong Chao, and she was even more ruthless towards Lin Weiping: "His name is Shang Kun, my cousin's husband. I heard he funded a new project, which Lin Weiping was in charge of. I checked, and now the project has been transferred to Carlton Company in the United States, but Lin Weiping still holds three million shares." When she first investigated, it wasn't for Lin Weiping's sake, but because she suspected Shang Kun of transferring assets. However, she couldn't find any clues after investigating, and now she was using them.
Gong Chao remained silent. His mind was a complete mess, filled with all sorts of suspicions that were making him increasingly agitated. He suddenly opened the car door, jumped out, and headed straight for the sea. Yu Fengmian was terrified. She rushed out and grabbed him, urgently shouting, "What are you doing? What are you doing? Get back in the car!"
Gong Chao, his eyelids drooping listlessly, didn't even glance at her, but he didn't struggle to move forward. He just said in a hollow voice, "Move aside, my mind is a mess right now. I want to soak in the sea. Move aside." Yu Fengmian hurriedly said, "It's almost Mid-Autumn Festival. Aren't you afraid of catching a cold? No, if you want to take a cold shower, I'll get you a room. I'm not comfortable letting you go into the sea now. Come on, let's go back to the car and we'll think of something else." She tried to persuade and coax him, but Gong Chao didn't seem to listen. He kept saying, "I'm so dizzy. Don't stop me. I'm so dizzy. I want to go into the sea." Yu Fengmian was worried and jealous, but she still had to bring up Lin Weiping to wake Gong Chao up: "Little Gong, calm down. We haven't even had direct contact yet. How can you be so confused? Maybe Lin Weiping didn't go anywhere today and is waiting for your call at home. Come on, let's go back to the car and contact her first. Cheer up and don't let your girlfriend notice anything unusual."
Upon hearing this, Gong Chao suddenly seemed to regain his senses. He hurriedly broke free from Yu Fengmian's arm, went back to the car to get his bag and find his phone, and clumsily dialed the number with slightly trembling fingers. However, the more he did so, the more mistakes he made. Yu Fengmian, who had been driving for a while, couldn't bear to watch any longer. She took the phone, asked for the number, dialed it for him, and then handed it to him. She stood a little further away, seemingly to avoid suspicion, but in fact, she could hear the voice clearly.
Lin Weiping had just taken out her documents to talk to Shang Kun when she saw the number and knew it was Gong Chao. Although she found it unusual—Gong Chao usually only texted her when she said she was busy, never called—she welcomed the call. When she answered, Shang Kun could hear something different in her "hello"—an indescribable quality. She had turned away from him, not wanting him to see her expression.
After a brief silence, Gong Chao abruptly asked, "Are you with Shang Kun right now?" Lin Weiping answered "yes" without hesitation, but during Gong Chao's subsequent silence, she sensed something was amiss. How did he know she was with Shang Kun? She knew how serious Shang Kun's asset transfer problem was, so she had never told Gong Chao, fearing that the more people knew, the greater the chance of leaks. Almost instantly, a thought flashed through her mind, and Lin Weiping jumped up, shouting sharply, "Gong Chao, were you following me?" Shang Kun's eyes flickered upon hearing this, watching Lin Weiping hurriedly walk to the balcony, but he remained silent.
Hearing the news confirmed, Gong Chao's heart tightened again. He looked blankly at Yu Fengmian, who was leaning against the back of the car, arms crossed, lost in thought. He then turned his gaze to the dock, where many cruise ships were moored, one of which displayed a message: "Congratulations to the Saintess on its maiden voyage!" As if possessed, Gong Chao blurted out, "Weiping, tell me, are you still a virgin?" Before he could finish, he heard Lin Weiping curse, "Are you crazy?" and the call dropped. He tried to redial, but the call wouldn't go through. He was still pressing the button when Yu Fengmian grabbed him and tossed him onto the back seat, asking softly, "Is it really that important whether a woman is a virgin or not?"
Gong Chao looked up at Yu Fengmian and said, slowly and deliberately, "They really are together. I understand now, I think I understand. Where would she get three million in registered capital? I pitifully kept treating her like a precious gem. Virginity isn't important; selling one's virginity for money is truly disgusting." He then closed his eyes and said nothing more. Yu Fengmian got into the car, pushed Gong Chao to the passenger seat, inserted the key to start the car, then thought for a moment and turned it off. She said to Gong Chao sincerely, "Based on your question just now, I believe you're acting very irrationally. I advise you: even when enemies are on bad terms, don't speak ill of each other. Calm down for a few days and don't do anything you'll regret in the heat of the moment."
Gong Chao remained silent, but he had already accepted Yu Fengmian's explanation; he was simply too lazy and lacked the energy to speak. Yu Fengmian, having seen much in her life, could easily see through his thoughts. She turned to him softly and said, "The department has a few spots for you to study in the US, it hasn't been decided yet, but it's coming up soon. I'll help you apply. It'll be good for you to go abroad and relax; you should meet the requirements. I'm worried about you going home today, so I'll book two rooms here, and we can relax for a couple of days, okay?" Gong Chao snorted, "You talk too much." Seeing that he had finally spoken, Yu Fengmian knew he had pulled himself out of his rut and perhaps had listened to her words. She wanted to separate this couple, keeping them far apart, preventing their conflict from being resolved and allowing their resentment to fester. Otherwise, where would she find an opportunity?
Chapter
twelve
Shang Kun watched as Lin Weiping rushed to the terrace, where he angrily cursed, "Are you crazy?" before slamming his phone shut and slamming it against the railing. Shang Kun figured the phone was probably beyond repair.
Upon hearing the word "stalking," Shang Kun already knew that Lin Weiping was unaware of the full story and had misunderstood her boyfriend. Last night, Pan Yingchun barged into his newly separated apartment, leaving a file folder on his door regardless of whether he opened it or not. Inside was a stack of photos, but as the person involved, Shang Kun knew very well that these photos were photoshopped. If they were released, the impact on him wouldn't be too significant, but the blow to Lin Weiping would be enormous. Women fear such matters of personal conduct the most. Shang Kun knew she was trying to use this as leverage. He had initially refrained from being too harsh, considering their past years of marriage, but now he knew he had to make a drastic decision, otherwise the implications would widen, creating a mess that would be impossible to clean up.
Even though Shang Kun knew they were fake, he still picked up the photos and examined them carefully after considering the divorce proceedings. The person who forged them seemed to have good taste; the photos were beautifully composited and pleasing to the eye. He simply smiled and locked all the photos in a safe, unwilling to tear them up, thinking he could look at them again later. He had originally planned to remind Lin Weiping today, but now he changed his mind. He knew his change of heart was despicable; as long as he didn't clarify, Lin Weiping would surely believe it was her boyfriend's doing. Let them misunderstand; even if they explained later, they wouldn't blame him, because he hadn't said a word throughout the whole affair; he was also a victim kept in the dark.
Throughout the entire divorce proceedings, Shang Kun sensed an unseen hand helping Pan Yingchun. This hand was incredibly cunning, flawless in every move, yet constantly unsettling. He had initially suspected Pan Yingchun had hired a good lawyer, but now he understood—it must be her distant cousin, Yu Fengmian. He had already discreetly investigated Lin Weiping's boyfriend and knew of the close relationship between Gong Chao and Yu Fengmian. Judging from today's phone call, only with Yu Fengmian's involvement and instigation could those fabricated photos have had any effect on Gong Chao. That was it; only someone as seasoned in the business world as Yu Fengmian could orchestrate such a meticulous plan. But Yu Fengmian and Pan Yingchun had no deep affection for each other; why would she go to such lengths to offend Shang Kun, a fellow townsman? Undoubtedly, it was a calculated move, a ploy to undermine him. Shang Kun sneered inwardly: Yu Fengmian, you've exposed yourself too early. Since that's the case, then he'll play along. She started the trouble; she shouldn't blame him for sharpening his knife.
Shang Kun was utterly baffled by Yu Fengmian's intentions. Why was she so focused on tormenting Lin Weiping? She couldn't possibly be unaware that he and Lin Weiping had no real relationship, and it seemed unnecessary to involve Lin Weiping so deeply. But judging from her relentless efforts, even using Lin Weiping's boyfriend, to attack him, she couldn't be acting without a legitimate reason; she must have other motives. Someone like her wouldn't act out of chivalry for a distant relative she wasn't particularly close to without ulterior motives. But what exactly was she after? Shang Kun couldn't help but worry for Lin Weiping. Although neither of these women were ordinary, their age and experience were obvious, and Lin Weiping might not be a match for Yu Fengmian. Moreover, with one acting openly and the other covertly, the situation was currently not favorable for Lin Weiping.
Looking at Lin Weiping standing in the darkness, Shang Kun felt a rare pang of pity. He walked over and said gently, "It's getting late. Let's go get something to eat. We can't mistreat our stomachs." He wanted to see how Lin Weiping would react to her relationship problems, but she turned around, seemingly surprised, and raised an eyebrow at him, saying, "Ah, right, you can forget everything, but you can't forget to eat. Let's go." She acted as if nothing had happened. Shang Kun didn't want to let her get away with it so easily, so he casually asked, "Having a fight with your boyfriend? Haha, that's a young person's thing." Lin Weiping didn't know if Shang Kun was teasing her, joking, or trying to lighten the mood, but he could tell she was in a bad mood. Since he was going to say that, she shouldn't be surprised if she brought it up herself: "Ah, yes, there was a misunderstanding. To keep it a secret for President Shang, a small sacrifice is necessary." Shang Kun could easily understand Lin Weiping's unspoken meaning, but this made him feel like he owed her a favor, and he had a feeling of turning the tables. According to Lao Zhou, he really did invite Lin Weiping to bully him.
Lin Weiping had already ruled out Shang Kun as the person who was following her, but she still had doubts about Gong Chao's actions. She couldn't understand why Gong Chao would do something so irrational. But they say that emotions can make people lose their minds, yet she hadn't provoked him, so why would he resort to such a drastic measure? However, she waited for a long time, hoping to hear an explanation from Gong Chao, but he never called. Was he really too guilty to face her? But she was unwilling to call him. While she was at the restaurant with Shang Kun, she was still a little absent-minded. As soon as she sat down at the table, she put her phone down on it, as quickly as when cell phones were still called "big brother" phones back in the day, and big shots would stand their brick-like phones upright on the table to show their status when dining out.
They had dined together many times before, and the two tacitly agreed to each order their own food. When the waitress brought the plates, she would instruct them on who to place them in front of, clearly separating their duties and not interfering with each other. This time was no different. However, after ordering, Shang Kun didn't speak immediately. He took out his phone, dialed a number, then turned it off, removed the SIM card, and handed the empty phone to Lin Weiping, saying, "Your phone must be malfunctioning. I see the indicator light is on, but I can't make calls. You can use this one for now." Lin Weiping raised an eyebrow, picked up his phone, and dialed a number. Sure enough, it didn't go through. He figured he must have smashed his phone in anger earlier, so he simply turned it off and threw it in his bag. Oh well, it was fate; why force it? He didn't want Shang Kun to witness such a dramatic scene. Taking advantage of this, he brought up the topic: "Mr. Shang is busier than me, how could I dare to take your phone? Thank you. Let's get straight to the point. There are many things to do today, all requiring Mr. Shang's approval and input. I was delayed earlier, so I can only try to make time during lunch. The first thing doesn't require a written report, shall I begin?" Having worked together for a long time, Lin Weiping knew that Shang Kun was a very good person to discuss issues with, and his insights were always unique and comprehensive. Over time, Lin Weiping felt more confident in carrying out decisions made after consulting with him.
Shang Kun could tell that Lin Weiping was sulking with her boyfriend, but he knew that if he pointed it out any further, she would lose face. He decided to let her change the subject. Besides, he secretly hoped this was just a polite gesture; he didn't want to see her boyfriend actually clarify things and the two reconcile, or for things to escalate and ruin their business meeting that day. So he took back his phone and smiled, "Okay, hurry up, or you can go to bed early."
Lin Weiping smiled somewhat reluctantly, "This is a bit of a coincidence. A client told me that the original grain wharf was not doing well and needed to be leased out. I went to see it, and the storage yard there is very large, and the facilities are well-maintained and complete, making it perfect for conversion into a wharf for our raw materials or finished products. Not many people dare to take it over because there are too many wharves like this now, and if you don't get enough business, you'll lose money, and the prices have already been driven down to the lowest possible level. But I've calculated that if we take it over, we'll have several advantages. First, the amount of raw materials my company will use by waterway in the future, plus the amount of raw materials your companies currently use by waterway, will be enough to balance the lease fee and daily management and maintenance costs. I'm also confident that I can attract the loading, unloading, and warehousing of several large-volume companies operating in this city, so it's basically a sure thing. Second, the company's current plan is to use the first two spans of the workshop as a raw material storage yard, which is also equipped with overhead cranes. If we lease that wharf, the raw materials can be stored on-site at the wharf." "We can use the available space as needed, and this empty space in the workshop can be used for other purposes. I sketched it out on the drawings yesterday; putting another production line there would be more compact, but it's not impossible—just a slight modification to the machine. This is a matter for later, but it avoids civil engineering, saving a significant amount on infrastructure costs. We can consider setting up a new line once production is on track. Thirdly, the companies I plan to bring to the dock are all closely related to our future operations; otherwise, they might not have agreed to move their loading and unloading points to our dock. After trial production, although General Manager Shang gave us an extra three million, I predict there will still be a large shortfall. Besides borrowing from the bank, I'm also prepared to secretly use the raw materials stored at the dock in case of temporary material shortages, to cope with the risk of running out of supplies. Of course, this is only a one-off thing, but as long as it can be a lifesaver, we should consider its possibility."
"Are you planning to take it all over?" Shang Kun had no doubt about Lin Weiping's ambition and praised her for diversifying her business. Setting up a company is already troublesome enough, but she still has time to think about other things, which shows how energetic and driven she is.
Lin Weiping shook his head and said, "No, I want to contract with President Shang." Shang Kun's raw material business involves large-scale transactions, and bringing him in would ensure that Shang Kun's business wouldn't be affected. As long as Shang Kun's business is secured, it's guaranteed to be profitable, so Lin Weiping believes in the principle of "no pain, no gain."
Shang Kun understood Lin Weiping's meaning after a moment's thought and smiled, "I agree with your second point, but have you considered that this would mean the dock would have to absorb the company's storage costs, which wouldn't be cost-effective for you? Of course, it's the most cost-effective for me. If you don't mind, then I'll support you. I won't participate in the contracting; I don't have the energy to manage this whole affair. But I can sign a contract with you, and from now on, all the goods of my companies will pass through your dock by waterway. As long as the price is reasonable, Old Zhou's volume is also quite large."
Lin Weiping understood that Shang Kun was offering her a benefit, although the premise seemed to be that he was taking advantage of the dockyard, thus creating a mutually beneficial arrangement. He wouldn't take a cut of the dock's business, making it fair and reasonable for both sides. Shang Kun didn't hold any shares, and the annual volume of goods coming in and going between the two companies alone was enough for Lin Weiping to earn what she used to earn in a year—something Shang Kun was likely aware of. His lack of interference showed that he intentionally wanted to give her this benefit. Most importantly, his tone was considerate of her feelings. Lin Weiping was grateful but didn't show it much, simply smiling and saying, "Then thank you in advance, Mr. Shang. But, Mr. Shang, do you think this contract is promising?"
Shang Kun didn't care about the small profits from the dock, and his main focus for the next year was already set, which would definitely take up a lot of his time and energy. He was happy to do Lin Weiping a favor and encourage her to work harder in the future. Besides, she had just been wronged by her boyfriend, and this move would be perfect for taking advantage of her vulnerability. It was a case of "you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub." "I haven't seen the dock in person, but based on your suggestion, it seems quite feasible." Shang Kun had originally wanted to ask if she had enough funds to open and operate the business, but after thinking about it, he kept quiet. Being too attentive might backfire, especially with a smart person like Lin Weiping.
Lin Weiping didn't dare say much in front of Shang Kun, knowing he wasn't as shrewd as him and would only make things worse if he spoke too much. So he simply moved on to the next topic. "The second thing is a key project in our city that I'm concerned about. It's been launched, and initially we'll need products from General Manager Shang's company, and then we'll need products from the new company. I'm thinking of using one team with two groups. I'll ask General Manager Shang's sales staff to handle the work, and I'll need General Manager Shang to put in a lot of effort to negotiate with them regarding the new company's products. But to support this project, our preparations must be accelerated. At least before the bidding, we must successfully complete trial production and secure several large orders, and we also need to pass ISO certification. Only then will we be qualified to attend the bidding conference. So I've devised an incentive plan. I'm going to clearly tell the workers the original expected trial production date, and if they can achieve it ahead of schedule with everyone's efforts, they'll receive a certain amount of bonus for each day they arrive early. I'd like to discuss a specific figure with General Manager Shang; I don't dare to make that decision on my own."
Shang Kun thought for a moment and said, "How many days earlier do you estimate we can advance the project if we push hard?" This was a huge project, and Shang Kun was personally overseeing it, so he immediately agreed with Lin Weiping's opinion. However, there needed to be a balance between the costs and the gains, which was beyond Shang Kun's control.
Lin Weiping knew from his words that this was what he meant, so he gave a very detailed introduction to the expected progress of various aspects, as well as several possible early progresses under different incentive mechanisms. In short, he was giving Shang Kun a choice. But at the end, he still reminded him, "If we win this project, you know they prefer a pure processing model. I've calculated the project schedule and the required product quantity according to their plan, and it's enough for our two production lines to operate three shifts a day for two years without any problems. In other words, if we don't add other production lines during these two years, we can live a good life without having to raise our own working capital. Mr. Shang, don't laugh, I know you're thinking about your promise of six million in working capital. We still need to get that, otherwise how can we start production and produce qualified products to bid? Of course, after winning the bid, you can withdraw your investment, or you can keep some of the money to add a third production line. If you choose the former, then the management for the next two years will be very simple, and you won't need to support such a high-priced talent as me anymore. If you choose the latter, then it's the best time to expand production scale." After speaking, he looked intently at Shang Kun, hoping to catch every subtle change in his expression.
Shang Kun was genuinely caught off guard. He hadn't expected her to veer from one topic to another, ultimately bringing up her future and the company's future. Her directness left Shang Kun feeling quite awkward. These were questions that couldn't be answered in a few words, so he replied in kind: "You have too many questions. How can I think of everything over dinner? Come on, let's take it one step at a time. Let's start with the progress bonus. I think your idea of advancing the production by half a month is a good compromise, and it won't tire the staff too much, which can handle the later trial production. However, the timeline will be tighter, but I believe you can handle that. The bonus will be the amount you suggested; it's not high. What do you think?"
Lin Weiping quickly added, "I also think this plan is quite promising, although it will be a bit stressful for me. But I need to remind President Shang that the timing of your funds' arrival will also need to be changed, especially for such a large amount of working capital. We need to prepare in advance. Okay, let's resolve these two simplest issues and have a meal in peace. I can't give you any precise data right now; it's all recorded on the computer. Let's talk about it when we get back to the room."
Shang Kun noticed that although Lin Weiping appeared assertive and radiant, she became dejected and listless as she finished speaking and ate, her eyes lowered. It seemed she had suffered a significant blow from her boyfriend. Even someone as strong as her, a girl who never showed her work-related frustrations, couldn't hide her emotions at this moment; they were subtly revealed in her gestures. Lin Weiping tried to suppress her suspicions about Gong Chao's situation, but she couldn't help but think about it. The thought made her head spin; she resented Gong Chao's distrust in sending someone to follow her, yet she also felt a pang of sympathy and wanted to find him to get to the bottom of things. She was also worried about her phone malfunctioning and how Gong Chao's inability to reach her would lead to various negative associations. A tangled mess, impossible to unravel, she decided to give up and retreat back to work. Fortunately, work offered some solace.
Chapter
Thirteen
In the days that followed, Gong Chao was extremely busy. Because he had decided to secure that overseas study spot on a whim, he not only needed to quickly prepare a large amount of application materials but also had to run around seeking connections and favors. Moreover, he didn't want to irresponsibly walk away, so he rushed to complete the design task assigned to him. For a while, he practically spent his days running around after Yu Fengmian, receiving her guidance on everything, his mind barely needing to work on its own. He wanted to call Lin Weiping to confirm everything, but he was so busy. He had time to go to the bathroom and sleep, but he simply didn't have time to call Lin Weiping. Every time the moment came, he hesitated, afraid of getting confirmation from Lin Weiping. He had considered ignoring Shang Kun and pretending that Lin Weiping's efforts had never happened, but he genuinely didn't have time to even think about it. Yu Fengmian was always so assertive; in her presence, he didn't even have room to think for himself. And before leaving her, she would dump a mountain of homework on him, requiring him to squeeze in time from his rest to complete it. Only after all the formalities were completed and he said goodbye to Yu Fengmian at the security checkpoint did his nerves suddenly relax, and he seemed to regain his own consciousness.
He wanted to call Lin Weiping to at least explain what had happened over the past few days. But when he took out his phone, he remembered that Yu Fengmian had already switched his SIM card to one from the American network. He remembered her earnest instructions to let her know he had arrived safely on the other side. Over the past few days, Gong Chao not only admired her superhuman energy and resourcefulness but was also deeply grateful for her care and concern, although he didn't understand why she, a complete stranger, was helping him so much. He sighed, put down his phone, and saw someone hunched over a SIM card phone. He quickly went over and asked the person if they had bought a SIM card with only a small amount of remaining value. He then typed in a string of numbers with lightning speed.
After a few long rings, someone answered the phone. "Hello," he thought. It was the voice of Lin Weiping, whom he had been longing for. For some reason, his throat hurt, and he lost his voice. He heard Lin Weiping say "Hello" a few more times, and he knew that if he didn't speak, Lin Weiping would hang up. He quickly managed to squeeze out a voice: "It's me."
Despite the distorted sound of the phone, Lin Weiping still managed to guess who the "I" was. She jumped up abruptly, her face changing drastically. Ignoring the stares of the employees talking in front of her, she urgently asked, "Gong Chao? Where are you? Speak up!" She sensed something from Gong Chao's labored speech, but what exactly was it?
Gong Chao looked up at the ceiling, took a few deep breaths, and then said, "I'm at the Capital Airport, I'm going to America..." Before he could finish, there was silence on the other end of the line. He checked his I-card and saw he only had two cents left. The days were numbered; fate wouldn't let him finish. But at least he knew Lin Weiping's attitude; she was worried about him. No rush, once he reached the other side, he could still call her. He had at least heard Lin Weiping's voice, and his mood improved considerably as he boarded the plane. The feeling of leaving home gradually returned.
Lin Weiping, unaware that he was facing a problem with his I-card running out of money, quickly dismissed his subordinates with a few words. His mind raced, and he figured Gong Chao's actions were likely a way of giving her an explanation before leaving, but he didn't want to get too involved with her. That's why he remained silent for so many days, only calling her right before boarding, and even then, it was just a few brief words. "It's just going to America, what's there to be so cocky about? Did you think I'd cry and chase after you to Beijing to beg you not to leave? You even calculated the time so meticulously."
But did he really go to America? For how long? Could it be forever? Lin Weiping was bewildered. For the first time ever, she abandoned her work, went home alone, drank a bottle of red wine with peanuts, and slept soundly. In the middle of the night, she woke up thirsty, grabbed a can of soda from the refrigerator, and drank it down. The icy drink made her stomach cramp, but it also made her unusually clear-headed. She leaned against the bed, carefully recalling every detail of her relationship with Gong Chao, analyzing the causes of their conflicts, tossing and turning until dawn broke. When faced with work problems, she could always clearly sort things out, summarizing the problem into one, two, or three points, and then confidently implement them. But with Gong Chao, she just couldn't understand it. Yes, she could see that Gong Chao had loved her, and she loved Gong Chao too, but could her love withstand Gong Chao's suspicion and stalking? She probably couldn't forgive Gong Chao's suspicion, but could she give him up because of it? She asked herself honestly, and she couldn't. So there was another way: for both of them to cool off for a while longer. During the period of calm she had been in before, she hadn't thought about anything at all. Only today did she finally set aside a significant amount of time to consider things. If it were her usual rational approach, she felt she should explain the situation to Gong Chao and then cut ties. But her emotions wouldn't allow her to do that. She desperately wanted to grab Gong Chao's ear, yell at him, and punch him before making up, or simply say nothing and maintain her dignity by severing all ties with him. She racked her brains for a long time without reaching a conclusion, so she simply washed up, forced herself to be energetic, and went to work. In her spare time, she sent Gong Chao a message in his email: "If you don't come back, don't call me again. If you do come back, then we'll talk about everything after you return."
Yes, she can't afford to waste time—not on her youth or relationships, but on her energy. The next year or two are the most crucial period in her life plan; success or failure hinges on this. She must devote herself entirely to her work. If someone were to ask her now whether relationships or career are more important, she would answer without hesitation: career. Because she has already figured out her own feelings: when she's focused on work, she won't think of Gong Chao, and when she's with him, she'll be distracted by work-related issues. So, to paraphrase a popular saying: follow your heart.
She was exhausted all day, both physically and mentally. When she looked in the mirror at 5 p.m. after get off work, she saw dark circles under her eyes. Just then, Shang Kun called at noon while she was dozing on the sofa, waking her from her slumber. He said that several business tycoons were having a gathering at 7 p.m. and invited her to join them. Having more friends meant having more options, especially important ones. As long as her head wasn't twisted off, she had to go, otherwise she would disappoint Shang Kun's kindness and miss this great opportunity.
I put on an SK-II face mask when I got home, leaned against the bed watching the news while waiting for the mask to work, but I accidentally fell asleep. Shang Kun called to wake me up, and when I checked the time, it was already 10:50. I hurriedly changed into a black and white checkered outfit with thin black straps. Looking at my face after the mask, it was so smooth and radiant, like a freshly peeled egg. I didn't bother with makeup, just a lip balm. Luckily, the rush hour was just over at 7:00, and I rushed to the restaurant. Everyone was already seated, and they were still ordering. But it was still really inappropriate for a junior like me to be late.
The people inside seemed to know each other well, exchanging pleasantries and creating a lively atmosphere. Lin Weiping only recognized Old Zhou among them. Old Zhou was pleased to see her and immediately invited her to sit next to him, saying, "Don't worry, I didn't ask you to sit here to drink. Several of us can hold our liquor well today. Just keep an eye on who spits on their handkerchief or doesn't finish their drink, and quietly tell me." Another fat man at the opposite table laughed, "Old Zhou, I haven't drunk with you in months, and I'm really craving it. We don't drink red wine; that sour stuff is only for Ah Kun. We'll drink white wine." "How's the liquor?" Lin Weiping laughed. "Old Zhou, this liquor is like pouring it on sand; it has no effect whatsoever. It's better not to drink it at all." The fat man clapped his hands and laughed, "That's right, this young lady is right. Nothing Old Zhou drinks works. Let's save Ah Kun some money and just give him a bottle of Erguotou." Old Zhou said to Lin Weiping, "This fat man is a big shot in the real estate industry. Call him Old Wang. Go to him when you buy a house. Old Wang, this young Lin is the managing director of the project Ah Kun withdrew from. He's incredibly capable; his brain is so sharp, every idea he comes up with only makes money."
Just then, Shang Kun entered and, seeing Lin Weiping, said, "Little Lin, you're so young but have such a big attitude. You're the last one at this table." Knowing she was in the wrong, Lin Weiping didn't dare respond and laughed, "Mr. Shang, you didn't order from outside, did you? Oh no, this lady definitely won't like what you ordered." Shang Kun looked at the only woman besides Lin Weiping at the table next to him and said, "Miss Yu Fengmian, you must know this Lin Weiping. Little Lin, this is Miss Yu..." Yu Fengmian had been observing Lin Weiping since she entered, and only now did she begin... "So you're Miss Lin. I've often heard Xiao Gong mention you. You're such a beautiful girl." From the moment Lin Weiping entered, she felt that this woman's gaze was deep and there was something hidden in it. Hearing her words now, her intuition told her that she had ill intentions. She casually asked, "Who is Xiao Gong?" Yu Fengmian didn't expect Lin Weiping's reply to be so blunt. She didn't know how to answer for a moment. She didn't want to say on the spot that Xiao Gong was Xiao Lin's boyfriend, so she could only smile faintly and say, "It's better to forget about it." Then she turned her head away and ignored the matter.
Shang Kun watched the interaction between the two women silently. He had specifically invited Yu Fengmian to meet with Lin Weiping, hoping to further investigate the true intentions behind her actions. However, Lin Weiping proved difficult to deal with, managing to shut Yu Fengmian down with a single sentence, preventing him from getting any information out of her. Old Zhou, remembering Shang Kun mentioning Lin Weiping had a boyfriend, glanced at her and noticed her gripping her glass tightly. It seemed Xiao Gong really was her boyfriend, and things were probably going wrong. He kindly changed the subject, raising his glass and saying, "Come on, let's drink to Ah Kun's successful divorce! Today, Ah Kun has cut off a piece of fat to gain his freedom; we should at least drink to that!"
Before he could finish his drink, Old Wang said, "Ah Kun, I still think you're stupid. Why did you get a divorce? You could have left her at home, lived outside, and done whatever you wanted. You'd have been just as carefree. Now look what's happened! You've lost half your business. It'll take years to recover. That factory you gave to your ex-wife this time—I don't know about anything else, but just that piece of land alone would have been enough for her to live on for several lifetimes. Damn it, last year I offered you some land in exchange for that factory, and you wouldn't have agreed. Now you're so generous giving it away. I used to say you were shrewd, but now I see you're only shrewd in small matters. As for big matters, heh heh. Brother, I'm sorry if I offended you with what I said. I'll punish myself with a drink."
Shang Kun pressed his hand down and said, "You're telling the truth, but I think that since our son was awarded to her, it's only right to give her something for the sake of our son's future. I hope she can settle down and manage things well in the future, and I will support her. After all, we were husband and wife."
Lin Weiping glanced at Lao Zhou, who was looking at Shang Kun with disbelief. He silently searched through Shang Kun's list of factories, and the one with the prime land Lao Wang had mentioned seemed to be the one. He couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Shang, is it the factory that just won part of the major project bid?" There was one last thought he dared not ask: People recognize your brand; don't ruin your reputation later.
Shang Kun nodded and said, "That's right, it's this one. This bidding contract is huge, Xiao Lin, you know, enough for the factory to operate comfortably for three quarters. But I was thinking of not telling my ex-wife yet, letting her encounter some troubles after taking over the factory, so she can learn how to manage it. It's October now, and that order won't start until the end of April next year, so there are still nearly half a year, enough time for her to figure things out. This is also for her own good. I'll tell her in early April next year, and after she's experienced the hardships, she'll definitely cherish this factory even more." As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked at him expectantly, no one believed that he was being sincere. But he really did do it, the court's judgment was in black and white, there was no denying it. Even if he didn't really hand it over, now it seems that he could only say those nice words to save face.
Others might only lament Shang Kun's loss of assets, but Lin Weiping was extremely worried. The factory's winning bid and future performance were closely related to the factory she managed, and it could potentially jeopardize her plans. However, these were Shang Kun's assets; how he handled them was his private matter, and others shouldn't interfere. So she could only swallow her frustration. Old Wang glanced sideways for a long time, his lips twitching before closing again, seemingly finding it unbelievable but not wanting to interrupt. Another older man sitting next to Shang Kun said, "Kun, this isn't like you at all. It's good that you care about your ex-wife, but don't damage your foundation. You're still alive; you can use the money to support your ex-wife later. Why let her ruin a perfectly good factory? Is managing a factory so easy? Will the workers and middle management respect her? Brother, I advise you to take some money and buy that factory back. All your factories are closely related; losing that crucial one will significantly diminish your influence in the industry."
Lin Weiping thought to himself, "This man's words sound like someone who's been in the business world." He remembered the man's surname was Guan, and upon checking his business card, he saw he was indeed the owner of a cement group—a very influential figure. Old Wang finally couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Ah Kun, tell me the truth, did you keep that winning bid a secret, letting your ex-wife run the factory and worry about it? I believe that with just a word from you, none of your former subordinates would give your ex-wife a good life. You're waiting for her to give up and beg you to take over, then you'll buy it back at a bargain price, right? Hmm, that's one way." Lin Weiping thought to himself, "That's not impossible. But Shang Kun probably won't admit it."
As expected, Shang Kun didn't answer his question directly, but laughed awkwardly, "Old Wang, don't expose my secrets like that. There are two ladies here. If we keep talking about mean women, these two heroines will come and skin you alive."
Unexpectedly, Old Wang's eyes darted between Lin Weiping and Yu Fengmian, immediately misunderstanding that Shang Kun might have taken a liking to one of them. He didn't want to treat the old hand coldly in front of the newcomer, lest he alarm the newcomer. However, remembering that Yu Fengmian had recently used her connections to snatch a prime piece of land he was determined to acquire, he was reluctant to see her smug. So he said, "Boss Yu isn't afraid to hear that. She's incredibly shrewd. She abandoned her husband early in her career and suffered no losses. When we men talk about this, we all admire her. That's called foresight and anticipating the enemy's moves. Miss Lin is young and inexperienced; just pretend you didn't hear what I, Old Wang, said, and don't take it to heart."
Lin Weiping thought to himself, "Why does Old Wang look like he's ready to start a fight? Wasn't this supposed to be a gathering of friends? At least he should say less since it's Shang Kun's divorce anniversary. How can we eat like this?" Sure enough, Shang Kun laughed, "Old Wang, you're especially impulsive today. You must have slept in the garlic field last night. Not only did you scold me, but you also dragged my ex-wife's cousin into it. If it weren't for Miss Yu's suggestion, I would have cut off such a big piece of fat and would be crying somewhere by now. How could you possibly meet Miss Lin, whom you want to see? Drink your Erguotou and get drunk so you won't have to talk. Little Lin, you're the most popular today. Miss Yu specifically asked to see you, this rising star. Old Wang has wanted to meet you for months. He said he's only ever seen aggressive female white-collar workers who act as intermediaries for foreigners, but he's never seen a girl who would go to construction sites and get involved in heavy industry. He asked me to introduce you as soon as we met. Today, you'd better show him what's different about you."
Yu Fengmian's embarrassment eased slightly, and she immediately retorted, "What are you looking at? Boss Wang is notorious in the industry for favoring sons over daughters. If Xiao Lin doesn't let him see it, fine. But if he does, who knows what kind of ivory will grow in his mouth."
Old Wang laughed loudly, "You're wrong this time. I admire Wu Yi the most. She came from Beijing Yanhua Chemical and is now the chairman of Baosteel. She's also a refined woman, just with a slightly rough voice. Beauty and heavy industry complement each other perfectly, much better than any 'Beauty and the Beast' story. Come on, Xiao Lin, let me toast you first. Even if we don't have a national-level position in the future, let's at least have a Wu Yi at the prefecture-level city level." He could say anything, depending on the speaker's stance. It seemed Old Wang was really going to have a showdown with Yu Fengmian today.
Lin Weiping raised his glass and clinked it against Old Wang's, smiling slightly. "While I may not have that much ability, it's still something to look forward to. Thank you for your kind words, I'll drink it all." He then downed the entire glass of red wine. Old Wang was now in a dilemma. He had used a red wine glass but poured Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor). After this one glass, he would lose the upper hand to Old Zhou, but he had started the commotion, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and drink it down. Yu Fengmian was very pleased to see this and said happily, "Men are so fickle. When they see a beautiful woman, their brains get all knotted. They're ready to live or die at will." Upon hearing this, Old Wang threw down the small towel he was using to wipe his mouth and said, "These days, rich women are something else. The drawings I had the city design institute do a few days ago were supposed to take several months, but they delivered them early. It turns out that the young man who did the design is good-looking, and a rich woman in our industry took a liking to him and spent nearly a million yuan to send him abroad for further studies. Miss Yu, I heard you were busy with this matter the other day."
After hearing this, Lin Weiping's expression changed drastically, and he could no longer restrain himself. Old Zhou suddenly realized that the feud between Yu Fengmian and Lin Weiping was because of that Xiao Gong from the design institute. What was so great about this kid that two women couldn't let him go? Shang Kun had some suspicions, but now he knew the reason. No wonder Yu Fengmian had given herself away so early; she was infatuated and confused, ruining her perfectly good plan. Perfect, this was good for him, a good opportunity to make arrangements in advance. Old Guan and Old Wang all had business dealings with Yu Fengmian, and seeing the situation become tense, they couldn't help but try to smooth things over. They laughed and said, "What's wrong? What's wrong? You all look like you have black eyes. Come on, Old Wang, take a glass and have a drink with Miss Yu. I, Old Guan, will have one too." Shang Kun laughed and said, "What else can we do? It's like a peacock spreading its tail. Come on, let's have a drink for us old trees sprouting new buds. Xiao Lin will have one too, as a way of showing consideration for the old folks."
Just then, Yu Fengmian's phone rang. She answered, first smiling at Lin Weiping, then speaking in a soft, almost chillingly gentle voice, "Is that really Xiao Gong? Have you arrived? Yes, great, great. It's cold on the east coast, don't forget to wear warm clothes." She then looked at Lin Weiping smugly and said to Gong Chao on the phone, "Today is President Shang's divorce celebration, oh yes, that President Shang. Xiao Lin is here too. Do you want to talk to her? Yes, sure, sure." She then handed the phone to Lin Weiping with a smile. Lin Weiping now understood. Yu Fengmian had asked Shang Kun to treat her to a meal, and then said she wanted to see her, Lin Weiping, all because she had timed it perfectly so that Gong Chao would arrive and call to let her know he was safe, allowing her to embarrass Lin Weiping in public. She was prepared. Tch, compared to Gong Chao, Lin Weiping knew him far better. Let's see who laughs last. By this point, Lin Weiping felt utterly disgusted with Gong Chao. A grown man living off a woman's money was utterly repulsive, no matter what his reasons might be.
Before she could finish saying "hello," Gong Chao on the other end said urgently, "What's there to celebrate about Shang Kun's divorce? Why are you getting involved? Does this mean you can finally be seen in public?" Lin Weiping was taken aback by his barrage of questions. Remembering Yu Fengmian's hint earlier, she vaguely understood what was going on. She suppressed her anger and pretended to be very magnanimous, saying, "Have you arrived at your place yet? Yes, that's good. It's good that you saw my email. Yes, yes, I think you don't need to call me anymore. Ah, right, you don't..." "You're back. It's nothing. I heard it at dinner today. Everyone in your line knows now, saying you got a rich woman's eye on you and were sent abroad to be kept as a mistress. They're talking about 'Little Gong' this and 'Little Gong' that. At first, I wondered who it was. No need to explain, everyone's saying really harsh things. You know this is a very sensitive topic. By the way, you're right, you're too ashamed to come back. Just stay in America." After saying that, without waiting for Gong Chao's urgent explanation, she coldly hung up the phone without even saying goodbye, staring into Yu Fengmian's eyes as she handed the phone back to her.
Seeing Yu Fengmian's expression change drastically, she snatched the phone, hurriedly picked up her bag, stood up, said she had to leave, and rushed out the door. Then everyone's attention turned to Lin Weiping. Everyone could guess how Xiao Gong would react to that phone call, especially after Lao Wang briefly described how young and promising Gong Chao was. What man with any ability and backbone would willingly live off a woman? Judging from Yu Fengmian's expression, she must have done something to send Xiao Gong abroad, giving a very high-sounding reason, which Lin Weiping had exposed in one fell swoop. She was rushing to make amends, otherwise she wouldn't have left in such a hurry. But it also showed that she really cared about Xiao Gong.
Lin Weiping, meanwhile, bit her lip and frowned, lost in thought. She had figured it out: Yu Fengmian must have interfered with her relationship with Shang Kun in front of Gong Chao, causing Gong Chao to be manipulated by Yu Fengmian in a fit of rage. It seemed Gong Chao's anger was justified, but his gullibility towards her, Lin Weiping, showed a profound lack of trust. Moreover, she hadn't realized how fragile his nerves were until tested; he lost his composure so easily, even after being provoked. He had promised to be her support, but before anything serious happened, he had already fled. Thankfully, he left early; if they had stayed together, who knew what problems would have arisen. As for Yu Fengmian, if she wanted to stage a "tiger-like" marriage robbery, so be it. Gong Chao didn't have the character "Lin" etched on his forehead, so why go after Lin Weiping and make her suffer? She figured Gong Chao would take action after hearing her words today, and Yu Fengmian would likely lose both her money and her lover. As for herself, well, let's not even talk about it.
Old Wang spoke first: "I shouldn't have invited her in the first place. Ah Kun, you know how much I dislike her lately. Luckily, she got the better of Xiao Lin today, losing both her face and her money. She helped me vent my anger." Shang Kun said: "Yu Fengmian asked me to treat her today, wasn't it just to see me suffer? I was originally thinking of getting a divorce, giving my ex-wife a reasonable amount of property, and she would definitely give her the son too. Anyway, the son is not young anymore, he won't disown me. But later I found that my ex-wife's methods were getting more and more sophisticated. It turns out that Yu Fengmian was helping her. Old Wang, do you think I was so willing to hand over that factory? I've already filed for divorce, I'm in a bind. It's better to end it quickly than to suffer for a long time. Giving away the factory will save me trouble and prevent Yu Fengmian from coming up with any more dirty tricks."
Old Guan nodded and said, "That's it. Since Old Wang is interested in that factory land, Yu Fengmian must be interested as well. She must know that even if she offers a high price, she can't buy it from you. You might as well ask your ex-wife for it."
"It'll be easier for her to take action. Ah Kun, you'd better tell your ex-wife about winning the bid as soon as possible, lest she really sell the factory because she can't keep it going. At least you could still hold onto it with your ex-wife, but if it falls into Yu Fengmian's hands, it'll be razed to the ground. A lot of your life's work will be wasted."
Old Zhou asked doubtfully, "Ah Kun, you're not the kind of person who can't fight back, are you? You don't seem like it. If you have something on your mind, you should tell us as soon as possible, and we brothers can help you get revenge."
Lin Weiping felt it was inconvenient to listen any longer, so she stood up and said, "Excuse me, everyone, my company is working the night shift tonight, I have to go check on things, I'll be going now." Everyone knew what she was thinking and didn't try to stop her, except for Old Zhou, who said, "Don't work too hard, you've lost weight, you still have a long way to go." Lin Weiping smiled and said, "No problem, I'm even planning to put a cot in my office to show my loyalty to the boss." She left with a smile, but once outside the door, her face instantly fell. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally.
Chapter
fourteen
She was exhausted, but couldn't sleep, her mind constantly replaying the conversation at dinner that day. Lin Weiping had truly suffered for Shang Kun's asset transfer, being watched openly and secretly, making her uncomfortable and constantly on guard. She was even being used by Yu Fengmian to sabotage her relationship with Gong Chao. It seemed this wasn't a good job either. Besides the docks, she needed to find a backup plan. First, to avoid being discarded by Shang Kun after winning a major project bid; second, having such a powerful backer seemed a waste not to use it to develop her own career; and third, what's wrong with more money? However, this meant even more hardship.
Today's meal was truly beneficial. It seems that as I climb the ranks, I'll encounter more people like Fengmian who try to trip me up. As for someone like Lao Wang, we were in the same boat today; watching him deal with Fengmian was satisfying, but I wonder if I can handle it when he turns against me in a conflict of interest. Retreating is not an option; I have to bite the bullet and move forward. But I need to be careful. In the future, I'll encounter many figures like Fengmian and Lao Wang, and I'll have to be extra careful in dealing with them.
Now, Shang Kun must have revealed his entire plan. Since he already knows Yu Fengmian's role, he still said and made many statements with everyone's unwitting cooperation. Most of those were probably meant for Yu Fengmian, with a small portion intended for someone else—in any case, he must have had his purpose. So what did he mean by hiding the bid from his ex-wife? What was he encouraging Yu Fengmian for? He only thought about it a few times before his head started throbbing. He decided to stop thinking about it; it wasn't his problem. It seemed Shang Kun had it under control and wouldn't affect the new company's bid. Let him do whatever he wants with Yu Fengmian; Yu Fengmian isn't someone to be trifled with anyway. He should spend more time thinking about himself.
Lin Weiping was still curious about how Yu Fengmian would explain things to Gong Chao. Given Gong Chao's somewhat chauvinistic personality, he would definitely be very averse to the idea of being kept. But he was currently in America, unfamiliar with the place, and Lin Weiping didn't know if he had enough money. If not, he might have to compromise his principles for a pittance when he was desperate. But he wondered how Yu Fengmian would feel about this now-distorted relationship by then. Would she find it tasteless? Judging from her behavior at dinner today, she seemed very serious about Gong Chao. Otherwise, given her experience, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to provoke Lin Weiping after succeeding. This was simply a display of submissive behavior. He hadn't expected a woman who had achieved so much success to still yearn for love. If she was acting solely out of love, then it was forgivable; everyone has their own abilities, and there's nothing to complain about if one loses. He was just angry at her arrogance today, though he had certainly retaliated.
However, Lin Weiping was still very disappointed in Gong Chao. He was too naive, falling into traps so easily when provoked. But blaming him entirely seemed unfair; he was facing the shrewd and experienced Yu Fengmian. Even though Lin Weiping herself had fallen for her own tricks, if she hadn't acted so impulsively and had simply called Gong Chao to explain, things wouldn't have turned out this way. It should be said that Yu Fengmian had precisely exploited the weaknesses in the two young people's personalities, using a clever trick. Being outmatched, she had to accept it. Even if Gong Chao rejected Yu Fengmian, she figured she couldn't accept him again anyway, so she should let it be in the past. As for Yu Fengmian, Lin Weiping thought that if they ever met again, she wouldn't be so kind as to pretend nothing had happened; they would at least have a showdown, not for lost feelings, but to test their skills.
Actually, Yu Fengmian wasn't as flustered as they had imagined. Stepping outside into the restaurant and being hit by the cold wind cleared her head, and once she calmed down, she regained her usual composure and experience. She got into her car and dialed Gong Chao's number, saying calmly, "You guys always use me as a scapegoat when you argue, piling all the nasty things on me. We've known each other for quite a while now. Did I ever touch you, or say anything that offended you? Alright, let's not talk about this nonsense anymore. You should focus on your studies and improve yourself. We can deal with these things when you get back to China. Otherwise, being so easily swayed by others while you're abroad will only affect your studies. I'll avoid any awkwardness today and won't say much more. If you're interested, I can tell you the details when we meet later. You should also get some rest. Serious matters are important; this spot wasn't easy to get, you need to learn something from it."
Gong Chao remained silent throughout the conversation, but Yu Fengmian could tell he was listening intently, just sulking and throwing a tantrum. She'd been young once too, and had seen all sorts of formidable characters; Gong Chao's little schemes weren't hard to guess. So, without waiting for his reaction, she hung up. She knew everyone had a weakness: they liked to hear things that benefited them. Although Lin Weiping's words had initially influenced her, she was certain Gong Chao had taken her words to heart and wouldn't have ignored them.
Having lived this long, Yu Fengmian understood that matters of the heart cannot be forced. Even if one were to hire a gigolo, one would have to set a reasonable price, let alone for a promising young man like Gong Chao. Her heart had already been tossed and turned many times during her divorce and subsequent blind dates and unrequited loves; she no longer harbored many illusions about relationships. If Gong Chao could be won over by her, that would be a win-win situation. If he became wary from today onward, then she could only prepare to be a good older sister. Fortunately, her losses weren't significant; the 500,000 yuan was actually wired from Pan Yingchun.
There's a saying that you shouldn't talk about people during the day or ghosts at night. And just like that, Pan Yingchun's call came unexpectedly. She immediately said, "Ah Feng, I'm officially taking over that factory tomorrow, and I have absolutely no idea what to do. You have to teach me. By the way, can you spare some time to come with me tomorrow? I can't even think about what to wear."
Yu Fengmian felt resentful that the money she had worked so hard to earn was only slightly more than what Pan Yingchun, who knew nothing but eating and sleeping well, received in the divorce settlement. She also felt contempt for the woman, who was only thinking about what to wear, and didn't want to talk to her, especially since she was in a bad mood. However, she still needed to use her and couldn't afford to offend her, so she continued to smile and guide her, making her do things that suited her wishes. Therefore, she said, "You, with your daily aerobics and massages, have such a great figure, not at all out of shape. What wouldn't look good on you? Just something formal, like a suit or something. But I have a meeting with people from the government tomorrow, so I won't have time to accompany you. Don't worry, go by yourself. Now you're the factory owner; money talks, so don't be afraid."