“The Asian region has always been dominated by conservatives, who are the least optimistic about such a radical plan. Is it confirmed that Kairos is coming to the Asian region? The fact that this project was approved so quickly must be related to Yamada, right?” Not wanting to beat around the bush, Qian Duoduo directly stated what was on her mind.
"Yamada? He is indeed very interested in this project. Kelos has benefited a lot from his support this time."
With a "smack," Qian Duoduo slammed his chopsticks on the table, squinted, and spoke in a low voice with a very gangster-like tone, "The project? His daughter is interested in you, isn't she?"
"Duoduo, are you jealous?" He actually laughed, seemingly in a good mood. "Don't worry, I'm very loyal." "..."
He looked so irritating that Qian Duoduo actually slapped him this time.
After finishing the bowl of porridge, Qian Duoduo finally sorted out the whole story. Kairos had long coveted the position in the Asia-Pacific region, while Yamada used his influence on the board of directors to support his rise in the Asia-Pacific region, while consolidating his own position in Japan. It was a win-win situation for both sides.
She could understand all of this, but the thought of Keiko Yamada's eyes made her feel suffocated, and she couldn't suppress it.
She wanted to press him about his past relationship with Keiko Yamada, but then thought it would be pointless to talk about it. Instead, she changed the subject, asking, "When will Kairos take office?"
“There will be a major reshuffle in the Asia region within the next two months. It’s good that you know in advance.” “Kenny.” She said seriously, “I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a while. Before coming to Hong Kong, I decided to resign.” “Why?” He raised an eyebrow. “Dodo, don’t you really like this job?” “Yes.” She nodded. “It’s very difficult to participate in projects like this. If you mind our superior-subordinate relationship, don’t worry, I’ll be leaving the marketing department soon.”
This time it was her turn to be surprised, but then she thought it was normal. His mission in China had been successfully completed, and after Kelos took office, he naturally wouldn't leave his capable and trusted subordinate in such a faraway place as the marketing department.
So what? She sighed softly and continued, "It has nothing to do with that, Kenny, I really want to resign."
He was silent for a few seconds, then reached out and gently pressed his hand against her cheek, smiling as he spoke, as if to comfort her, or perhaps to plead, "Duoduo, are you going to leave me to fight this battle alone?"
His palm smelled of tree fragrance and the aroma of ginkgo porridge; it was warm, and the touch was natural, a caress of trust and affection.
Qian Duoduo, who is decisive and efficient, brave and resolute, and quick to cut through the mess, suddenly lost her resolve at this moment. With just a simple touch, she instantly became bewildered and speechless.
Chapter Sixty-One
Before he could say much, Xu Fei's phone rang again. He glanced at the number before answering, nodding mostly and giving brief replies. Qian Duoduo, noticing he was talking to Kairos, didn't care and continued drinking her milk tea. He kept looking at her while he was on the phone, and then grabbed the phone after he finished.
"What's wrong? Is something the matter? Let's go then." She wiped her mouth and decisively raised her hand to pay the bill. Xu Fei was always faster than her; he had already placed the money under the glass, stood up, and pulled her along. "Kailos is looking for me. I'll take you back to the hotel first." Despite saying he had something to do, he wasn't in a hurry. The restaurant was about a ten-minute walk from the hotel, and he still led her along leisurely, just like he had come.
"Hey, your boss is waiting for you, aren't you in a hurry?" How could he be so dismissive of his boss? Qian Duoduo was curious. "He's still waiting for someone, no rush." He seemed to enjoy strolling hand-in-hand with her, his speech slowing down. "Who?" A sudden thought flashed through her mind, and Qian Duoduo tilted her head to look at him. "Yamada? Or Yamada Keiko?"
“Huizi said she wants to come and learn. You know, when Yamada asks, Kairos won’t refuse.” He said frankly, but before he could finish his sentence, Qian Duoduo interrupted him. This time, she put her hands behind her back and looked cool. “You go ahead and do your work. I have to go back to the restaurant.”
"Aren't you full? What else do you want to eat?" He was a little taken aback.
"I suddenly feel like eating vinegar. I'll go back and ask the boss if they still have crabs with vinegar." She said this in a serious tone, and then turned around and started walking back the way she came.
There was a loud laugh behind me, and then I felt a warmth on my shoulder as someone pulled me down forcefully, making it impossible for me to take another step.
Qian Duoduo stared and looked up, only to see him smiling, revealing a set of white teeth, his eyes bright and happy. Then, in a flash, she felt a warmth on her lips, and once again, she was kissed by him openly and honestly on the street.
His kiss was short and forceful. When he finished, he looked down at her and smiled, his bright eyes reflecting his own image.
Her hand was pulled again, and the previous topic ended automatically. He had gotten quite used to being indecent on the streets lately, and there was really nothing she could do about it. Qian Duoduo was pulled along by him as they continued walking.
His palms were warm, and the sound of her heels gently tapping on the quiet street lingered. Their shadows, long and short, intertwined in her eyes. Just yesterday she was struggling with whether or not to accept this man, but today it felt as if they had been inseparable for many years. Even their walks were perfectly in sync, and she was enjoying it to the fullest.
It was quiet all around. The two of them stopped talking and fell silent in unison, feeling a strange sensation. Qian Duoduo suddenly had a hallucination, imagining himself as an animal that had been separated from its flock for a long time and had finally met its own kind—its only kind—before despair.
Such good fortune is something to be grateful for. She glanced at him again; his profile was gentle under the streetlights, a stark contrast to his usual high-spirited demeanor.
The hotel was already in sight, and the ten-minute journey felt like it took only a moment for Xu Fei. When she reached her destination, she felt a little reluctant to leave.
Duoduo, we've arrived.
I wanted to say something to her, but suddenly I felt a warm touch on my arm. I looked down and saw Qian Duoduo, who was now obediently leaning her face in and gently rubbing against me.
After Xu Fei escorted her to her room, he left. Qian Duoduo washed up and went to bed alone. Once everything was settled, she lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.
So much had happened these past two days. She felt exhausted and her head was throbbing, but her body was weak and tired. She quickly fell into a deep sleep, but was suddenly awakened by a nightmare in the middle of the night. She sat up abruptly in bed.
The room was quiet and empty, without a sound. Her panting was amplified infinitely, like a scene from a horror movie.
This was the nightmare. She ran alone, and there was no one around. Even her house was empty. She didn't know what she was looking for. She just opened every room frantically.
Just as I was panting, clutching my chest, my phone on the bedside table suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up in the darkness; it was a text message.
I grabbed it and looked at it; there was only one simple line of text: "Duoduo, are you asleep?"
She didn't reply, but went to bed barefoot. The hotel room carpet was thick and very soft underfoot, so soft that her toes felt like they were sinking into it.
In a hotel like this, all public areas are naturally brightly lit 24 hours a day, but it was late, and the corridors were deserted and silent. She was taken aback when she opened the door.
Before her eyes flashed, she was suddenly hugged, like a baby being held. She wasn't tall enough, so the waist was wrapped around her and her feet left the ground. She wanted to scream, but her mouth was covered. All she heard was the sound of a door closing, a soft thud.
He was still wearing that formal suit, and miraculously, despite a busy day, he still smelled fresh. He didn't say a word after entering the room, but hugged her tightly and kissed her passionately, his breath hot.
Her body reacted honestly, with pure pleasure. When she lay on her back on the bed, Qian Duoduo had to grit her teeth to keep herself from making a sound.
Everything happened so naturally, so smoothly. When her skin was exposed to the air, she didn't feel cold at all. The feeling of every inch of skin touching hers was like a wildfire spreading. The feeling of being naked against each other was like being in heaven.
Her frantic search, the emptiness and disappointment she felt after opening the door countless times, suddenly vanished. As pleasure surged, Qian Duoduo bit her lip and groaned. She felt a warmth on her lips; it was his fingers stroking her face and gently parting her lips.
There was a voice in my ear, hoarse yet cheerful, very gentle, as if coaxing a child. It was him speaking, saying, "No, it hurts, bite me instead."
The man on top of her leaned down to kiss her, his tongue forceful, and then grabbed her wrists and pressed them above her head. As pleasure surged, her limbs spasmed, and she couldn't control her urge to scream. In the end, she bit down hard on his shoulder, her teeth sinking deep into his flesh, and the faint smell of blood filled the air.
He dodged, his eyes unfocused, staring intently at her. When she bit him, he groaned, or perhaps it was a muffled laugh. Then he lowered his head to kiss her restless lips, his voice muffled between his teeth, "Duoduo, I love you."
She was so happy she felt like she was going to explode, her mind was in a daze. She just hummed in response and then kissed him back more forcefully. As their tongues intertwined, she felt her heart being twisted and turned repeatedly, and her whole body was trembling.
After it was over, Qian Duoduo was temporarily paralyzed, feeling as if all the bones in her body had been drained, leaving her only the strength to breathe and barely sustain her life. Lack of oxygen, her mind went blank when she inhaled. Her vision blurred, and she vaguely saw him lean down to kiss her again. With her last remaining strength, she turned her head away, and Qian Duoduo almost cried out in pain.
I don't know if it's any use regretting it now. This wild animal is too fierce. When it makes love, it's like a chase on the African savanna. It bites its prey tightly and won't let go. Poor thing, she's almost thirty years old and has finally opened her eyes to the world, personally experiencing the legendary "mini-death experience".
The muffled laughter returned, and then she was embraced. The view in front of her was pleasing to the eye: the chest of a young man, his skin firm and taut, and looking up, she could see his beautifully shaped jawline.
There was another voice above her head, this time clear and certain. He was repeating what he had just said, no longer laughing, very serious. It was just a few words, but she felt like she was listening to gibberish.
The message in the cryptic book read: "Duoduo, I love you." Her reply was simple, a question with just three words: "Are you crazy?"
Chapter Sixty-Two
Regarding what men say, Yiyi once made a very insightful conclusion in front of Qian Duoduo, which was roughly as follows:
1. Men lose their brains during sex, and anything they say can be ignored.
After sex, they have a recovery period during which the brain is still in a state of insufficient oxygen supply. However, if the same content is repeated, the credibility can rise to up to 30%.
Third, if they are still awake and repeat the same thing the morning after having sex, then it means he is serious and his credibility is very high.
Moreover, according to Yiyi's own testimony, she received her marriage proposal at the breakfast table. At that time, she was not wearing any makeup and had half a mouthful of milk in her mouth. If she could still be captivating in Niu Zhensheng's eyes, then he must love her terribly.
By the same token, although Xu Fei wasn't writing these words at breakfast time, Qian Duoduo also didn't think she would look as beautiful as an angel when she was half asleep. So, are the three words "I love you" true?
Is this for real? Who says "I love you" so openly these days? It's like being tied up and handed over to someone to be slaughtered.
Unable to believe it, Qian Duoduo stared at the note in a daze for a long time before slowly getting out of bed, putting on a pair of clothes, and going to the bathroom to rinse her mouth and wash her face.
Standing in front of the mirror, she felt she didn't recognize the woman in it. It had been a long time since she had observed herself so closely in the mirror. In the past, she was always in a rush to go to work, quickly applying skincare products and leaving. When she got home, she was exhausted and would rush to get herself cleaned up like she was in a battle before going to bed. She never had time to study her face.
Things are different now. In a good mood and with plenty of free time, Qian Duoduo looked around and felt that her whole face was rosy and glowing, and even her eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of water.
No wonder people say that the balance of Yin and Yang is the key to beauty. She used to scoff at it while applying expensive skincare products, but now she's convinced.
She reached for the tap, only to realize that she had been clutching the note in her hand the whole time. It was a simple hotel notepad, square and white, and it was already a little crumpled from being gripped so tightly, but the words were still clear.
Imagine him sitting next to you as you sleep, carefully writing these words stroke by stroke. In the bathroom, you're all alone. If you keep pretending, it'll be too fake. Unable to contain her joy, Qian Duoduo burst out laughing.
I had thought that this reshuffle of the top leadership in UVL Asia would be a protracted war like the defense of Moscow, lasting a year or two until we were out of ammunition and supplies and the smoke of battle filled the air. But the result was a blitzkrieg against Poland. The Kelos faction seized power with lightning speed, and the conservatives were defeated before they could even respond.
In the two months following my return from Hong Kong, the company was like a stage for a thrilling Hollywood blockbuster, with something to keep me on my toes and on my nerves every day.
The legendary CEO arrived at the Asia headquarters and personally announced that Kairos, formerly from the European region, would become the new CEO of the Asia region. The outgoing CEO retired early, and the farewell party and the inauguration ceremony were held one after the other, both of them incredibly grand.
It all seemed glamorous on the surface, but in reality, the old team scattered like leaves in the wind. Those with ability had already planned their escape routes, observing the situation since Xu Fei took office. When they saw things were going badly, they immediately ran away. Those without ability couldn't find a way out in the short term, so they lived in constant fear and anxiety.
Their concerns are absolutely justified. Regime changes all over the world have been carried out by stepping over the corpses of the old guard, and this place is no exception.
The first thing Kelos did after taking office was to replace and sideline the conservatives, and Kenny Xu, the legendary marketing director who had been parachuted in, naturally returned to his side as a special assistant.
The former CEO's deputy has been sidelined and is now just a figurehead; it's clear to anyone with eyes to see that Xu Fei's current status is extraordinary.
A major reshuffle has taken place in the Asia region, with a bloody power struggle spreading from the top down. Within each department, some have left while others have stayed, and some have been promoted while others have been demoted. Some are happy while others are sad.
As for Qian Duoduo, her feelings were very complicated, and it was difficult to describe in words.
In the second week after returning to China, the headhunting company that had been diligently contacting her called her several times. Then, the HR director of M&C contacted her privately and offered her a very attractive job: the Director of Operations for the Mass Market at M&C, with a three-year contract and a work location in Hong Kong.
M&C is a dark horse that has emerged in the international market in the past two years. She is good at capital operation. Her position at UVL is only senior manager of the China marketing department. It is really unexpected that M&C has offered her such a good treatment this time.
Before she could even weigh the options, almost simultaneously, a promotion letter was placed in front of her. After several months of twists and turns, she finally got the position she thought was rightfully hers, becoming the new Marketing Director.
On one side was her resignation letter, still lying quietly in the drawer, never having seen the light of day; on the other side was an unprecedented olive branch extended by M&C. She sat quietly in front of the two documents for an entire night, until the first light of dawn broke.
His voice kept echoing in her ears, "Dodo, are you going to leave me to fight alone?" She closed her eyes and sighed. Finally, she reached out and gently closed the M&C contract.
Chapter Sixty-Three
On the morning she was announced to have been promoted, Qian Duoduo sat at the dining table with a serious expression in front of her milk glass. Her mother was used to her daughter's mood swings at breakfast time. While picking up some pickled vegetables with her chopsticks, she tried to comfort her, "What's wrong now, Duoduo? Didn't I tell you before that if you don't get promoted, that's fine. Take care of your own affairs first. Right now, the most important thing for you is not to get promoted, but to get married as soon as possible."
Getting married—when does she ever think about that now?
With a sigh, knowing they would find out sooner or later, Qian Duoduo stopped gazing at her milk cup, stood up, and announced the good news, "Mom and Dad, I got a promotion."
Just a few months ago, they heard Duoduo announce that she had failed to get a promotion. Her words were still fresh in their minds. Now, not long after, their daughter said the word "promotion" in the same tone. So sudden, Mr. and Mrs. Qian looked at each other in surprise.
After regaining her senses, Qian's mother was the first to complain, "Another promotion? Won't you be even busier? When will you and Xiao Ye have time to go on dates?"
Hearing the name Qian Duoduo gave her a headache. She took a deep breath before speaking, her expression showing some difficulty, but she clearly expressed her determination: "Mom, I have no feelings for Ye Mingshen, so I don't plan to talk to him anymore."
There was a gasp from the other side, a sign that her mother was about to explode. After dropping this bombshell, Qian Duoduo didn't have the courage to look at her mother's expression anymore and ran off to work. She ran so fast that her goodbye drifted over from afar.
She parked her car directly in the director's reserved spot in the underground garage. When Qian Duoduo entered the elevator, it was during working hours. She was surrounded by people, and everyone around her was smiling. As for what was behind those smiles, Qian Duoduo was too busy maintaining her own smile to care. As she walked along, she felt her facial muscles were stiff when she finally entered the office.
Before I could even sit down, I heard a knock on the door. It was Xiaolan, carrying a large stack of documents in one hand. She walked in, stood at attention, and greeted me with a smile, "Good morning, boss."
"Good morning," Qian Duoduo replied with a smile.
Xiao Lan walked over but didn't put down the folder immediately. Instead, she stretched out the hand that was behind her back, opened her fist to reveal a small box, and continued with a smile, "Congratulations, boss."
"Why are you giving me things? I should be the one treating you to dinner. Let's go to our usual spot tonight."
"This was prepared by the boss, but I didn't expect that last time it suddenly—" Xiaolan stuck out her tongue, "Anyway, it just went around in circles, and now everything is fine. Look, I specially picked it out for you."
As she spoke, Xiaolan opened the small box, which was printed with the Swarovski swan logo. Inside, a small crystal planter notepad base was hidden in the soft white lining. Under the light, the exquisite little pot with red flowers and green leaves was translucent, and two small loops of silver wire were wrapped around it.
The desk was spacious, and she had only been sitting there for a short time. Apart from the computer, there was nothing on it. The little thing looked even more exquisite and cute after being placed on it, which made Qian Duoduo laugh.