And so, I will not regret my choice, no matter what hardships I face.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Qian Duoduo, having made up her mind, encountered an unexpected problem the very next day.
When I entered the marketing department in the morning, everyone's eyes were full of questions. Xiao Lan had been promoted to special assistant to the director. Her desk was right outside her office door. As soon as she saw me coming, she stood up and said anxiously, "Boss, Deputy Director Li came to see you earlier."
Li Weili? Qian Duoduo frowned. "Why didn't you notify me?"
"Vice President Li came here with Miss Yamada and just left."
"Yamada?" Qian Duoduo repeated, remembering the name vividly.
"It was presumptuous of me to leave without prior notice." A female voice came from behind, and when I turned around, I saw Keiko Yamada's exquisitely made-up face.
Qian Duoduo was taken aback, then calmed down and smiled, "Ms. Yamada? What brings you to Shanghai?"
Now I finally understand why others see me that way. Keiko Yamada suddenly arrived in Shanghai, accompanied by Li Weili, and appeared in her office early in the morning. She hadn't even warmed up her new director position before this happened. Who knows what everyone was thinking?
"Ms. Qian, it's been a long time. I apologize for the intrusion." Keiko Yamada was still dressed in a neat and professional manner. The building had glass walls, which allowed for excellent lighting. Her jet-black hair shone brightly in the light, and her makeup was perfect and exquisite, making her very attractive.
Qian Duoduo already had a standard smile on her face. "Yes, it's been a long time. Call me Dona. Are you here for a meeting? Would you like me to show you around the marketing department?"
"Thank you." Huizi smiled faintly, her tone polite and courteous. "Wcllce has already shown me around, so I won't trouble you any further. I've been to Shanghai before, and it's changed a lot recently."
Qian Duoduo smiled and said, "Really?" She then pushed open the door to the director's office. "Come sit in my office and we'll chat for a while. Xiaolan, please pour us two cups of coffee, thank you."
The two of them laughed and joked, leaving everyone around them full of questions. The actual situation didn't match their initial guesses at all. Could it be that Qian Duoduo knew this famous young lady? Were they friends? If so, no wonder Qian Duoduo was able to turn her life around and successfully become a director.
Some people went even further: Why did Qian Duoduo have such good relationships with these foreign women? Could it be—some people with exceptional imaginations suddenly had dark lines appear on their faces—that they were really the legendary lesbians?
The vortex of speculation grew larger and larger, but the two key figures had already disappeared behind the closed door of the director's office. Alas, there was nothing to see again, and everyone sighed silently once more.
"Ms. Yamada, what brings you to China so suddenly? Are you here for a meeting?" Since only the two of them were left in the room, Qian Duoduo invited her to sit down on the sofa.
“No,” Keiko replied simply. “I applied to participate in the acquisition project in the Asian region and just flew in from Japan yesterday.”
Qian Duoduo was taken aback, but her expression remained calm. "So, will you be staying here permanently from now on?"
“Yes, I’ve worked with Kenny before in Japan. I’m here this time to learn more from him. Asia is a strategic priority, and this project is very important. I really want to gain experience here. Dona, you’re based in China and are familiar with the market here. Please take care of me in the future.”
Although she had a Westernized style, she was still a Japanese woman. When she finished speaking, she stood up, placed her hands on her knees, and gave a slight bow.
Qian Duoduo, however, was not used to it and stood up as well. Just then, Xiaolan pushed open the door to deliver coffee, and the two of them stopped talking and sat down.
With a smile, Qian Duoduo thanked Xiaolan, took the cup, placed it in front of Huizi, and waited for Xiaolan to leave before continuing, "I wouldn't dare to ask for your advice. We should have many opportunities to meet in the future. I hope this project goes smoothly."
Huizi nodded, sat down, picked up the coffee cup and brought it to her lips. Her eyes peeked out from above the rim of the cup, her gaze fixed on her from beneath her delicate eyelashes. After a few seconds, she smiled slightly.
The phone on the table rang. Qian Duoduo said sorry and went over. Xiao Lan's voice came through, "Boss, Vice President Li is here again. Should we invite him in?"
Running around doing everything for others, at such an advanced age, it's not easy for them.
Qian Duoduo had only thought this to herself and hadn't had time to answer Xiaolan when a voice came from behind her. Huizi stood up and said, "Dona, it's my first day here, and there are still some places I need to familiarize myself with. I won't disturb your work any longer, so I'll take my leave now."
After opening the door, Qian Duoduo saw that Li Weili had already brought a group of people to welcome the daughter of the director. Qian Duoduo escorted them to the entrance of the marketing department. Li Weili walked beside Huizi the whole time, and then turned around and looked at her with a kind smile.
Completely impressed, Qian Duoduo immediately stopped and watched them leave with a smile.
Back in her office, she sat down in her leather chair and let out a long sigh. Before she knew it, her hand was on the phone. She wanted to call Xu Fei and ask if he was aware of the sudden situation. Or she could simply let herself go and complain, telling him how upset and anxious she was, and how she wanted him to come back immediately to explain everything.
These thoughts swirled in my mind for a moment, and I suddenly felt ridiculous. What was there to say? What could his answer change? Was she supposed to sit in the office and whine over an overseas phone, saying that all my unhappiness was his fault, his fault, his fault?
Laughing to herself for having wasted her life, Qian Duoduo immediately pulled her hand away from the phone, opened it to check today's schedule, and put everything aside to get to work.
In the afternoon, Qian Duoduo chaired the initial project meeting. The project managers from various regions kept recounting the difficulties and obstacles brought about by the recent market turmoil. Knowing that they were testing the new director's abilities, Qian Duoduo perked up and dealt with each one. By the time the meeting ended smoothly, the clock had already struck seven.
When she entered the underground parking garage, she felt exhausted. The driver had already gone off duty, and the director's car was quietly parked in its place. It felt unfamiliar to her, and she walked over with unusually slow steps.
Suddenly, she heard car lights flashing behind her, followed by a soft braking sound. Turning around, she saw only bright lights and a car gliding towards her, slowly coming to a stop, just a few feet away.
The car headlights were dazzling, and Qian Duoduo instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. The car had already stopped beside her, and then the door opened in front of her. The young man leaned forward and looked at her, his voice smiling, "Miss, would you do me the honor of letting me take you home?"
The feeling of happiness came simply and purely, but Qian Duoduo didn't move. She bent down and looked at him carefully without saying a word.
Qian Duoduo's eyes were bright, and Xu Fei was a little stunned by her gaze. He had spent the previous dozen or so hours on the plane, and had not left London with Kairos as originally planned, nor had he notified anyone. He had returned to Shanghai alone ahead of time, knowing that she should still be at the company at this time, and had just come directly from the airport.
Contrary to Yang's expectations, Qian Duoduo showed no surprise or astonishment at seeing him. Instead, she stared at him intently, as if he were an alien who had suddenly appeared.
Confused, Xu Fei added, "Duoduo, what's wrong?"
"Vice President Xu," she finally spoke, her tone very formal.
"Um?"
"Miss Huizi came to my office today and informed me in person that she will continue to work with you in China. She also said that she would consult me if needed in the future. Do you have anything to say about this?"
He answered readily, "Yes, I only received the news yesterday. She's already arrived? That's fast."
"You knew yesterday? Why didn't you tell me?" Qian Duoduo continued, squinting her eyes.
He looked a little confused. "Does it really matter whether she comes or not?" He paused for a second, then suddenly laughed as if he had just realized something. He reached out to pull her arm. "Duoduo, are you jealous again?"
Qian Duoduo took a step back while maintaining her original posture, and said with a stern face, "Vice President Xu, this is the company's underground parking garage. There are many cameras and many colleagues coming and going. Please be careful of any scandals."
Huh? She had said not to reveal their relationship at the company, but she had never said it so seriously before, and it wasn't a joke at all. Xu Fei was speechless after hearing this.
She was bending over to speak, so all she could see was his face. He had thick, dark eyebrows, perfectly drawn eyelashes, and a handsome, youthful face with a hint of childlike innocence. He had been all smiles, but his expression drooped because of her words, making him look rather pitiful.
She wanted to laugh, but she held it in. Then she added, "So you have to stick close to my car later, don't get lost." After saying that, she didn't wait for his reply. She thoughtfully closed the passenger door for him and walked to her own car.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
She wanted to laugh, but she held it in. Then she added, "So you have to stick close to my car later, don't get lost." After saying that, she didn't wait for his reply. She thoughtfully closed the passenger door for him and turned to walk towards her own car.
When she got into the car, she quickly started the engine and stepped on the gas. In the rearview mirror, she saw that the two bright lights also started moving. The exit ramp of the underground parking garage was narrow and winding, so she didn't drive fast. When she turned onto the street, the two lights were still behind the car, sticking to her side.
The corners of my mouth couldn't help but curl up, and then up again. I reached out to press them down, but I couldn't smooth them out no matter what I did.
The car continued to move forward at a steady pace. The street next to the company was quiet with few vehicles. Suddenly, a bright headlight flashed behind him, followed by the sound of acceleration. In the blink of an eye, his car had overtaken the car in front and stopped abruptly.
Startled, she slammed on the brakes. Luckily, the car was in good condition and not going fast, and Qian Duoduo stopped safely.
Why drive such a dangerous high-speed chase on the street? Startled, Qian Duoduo pushed open the door, wanting to get out of the car and teach that man with his intermittent hot-headedness a lesson.
But she was no match for his speed. Before her feet even touched the ground, she saw the car door open and close. He jumped down with agility and grace, and in the blink of an eye, she was pulled out.
The next second, before Qian Duoduo, who was a little annoyed by the fright, could say a word, she was hugged tightly on the street and then given a happy kiss.
On a summer night, the night breeze was soft and cool, the streets were quiet, and passing cars slowed down to watch them kiss in the street, with faint whistles heard.
After their lips parted, Qian Duoduo, panting, glared at him and managed to utter three words with all her might, "Are you crazy?"
He looked at her and smiled, then answered very seriously, "I'm not crazy."
He wasn't crazy; it was just that Qian Duoduo had been so serious and earnest in the underground parking lot, warning him to be careful of scandals, and then suddenly her eyes lit up with laughter, telling him not to lose her. He followed her car, watching her drive so leisurely, and suddenly felt a strong urge to hug and kiss her.
That's what he thought, and that's what he did. He wasn't trying to scare her on purpose; he just couldn't suppress his inner desire and wanted to touch her with his hands immediately.
"I'm not crazy?" He actually answered? Qian Duoduo stared at him in disbelief, wanting to scold him a few more times, but the joy welling up inside her made her feel lightheaded.
Her body was nestled in the strong arms of the young man, and the long-lost scent of trees filled her nostrils. Such an embrace and kiss was an unparalleled pleasure. It had only been a week since they last met, but she suddenly realized how much she missed him—from body to heart, every inch of her longed for him.
Qian Duoduo stayed at Xu Fei's apartment very late. Xu Fei's apartment was on a very high floor, with a large curved balcony outside the living room. It was windy at night, but you could overlook the lights of thousands of homes, and the view was magnificent.
They chatted and drank red wine on the balcony, elbows resting on the railing, shoulders touching. They didn't know why they had so much to say, or what made them so happy. They would smile at each other after a few words.
The Bordeaux wine was fragrant and mellow, but Qian Duoduo didn't drink much. However, he felt the alcohol was making him feel dizzy and lightheaded, and his heart couldn't settle down.
Still thinking about Huizi's visit, she put down her wine glass and turned to ask him, "Kenny, I think Huizi's purpose in joining your team is strange. She has already participated in projects in the Asian region. Even if she wants to gain experience, she should go to Europe and America. Why is she wasting her time coming to China?"
"The company's future growth focus is on Asia, with India and China being very important. Yamada's support for Kairos is not without conditions. I think he is also very interested in China. Bringing Keiko over here may be to help her become more familiar with the environment here."
"Am I more familiar with the environment here or with you?" Qian Duoduo raised one eyebrow and glanced at him sideways.
"Duoduo." He put down his wine glass, turned to face her and smiled.
"What? Hey, don't change the subject..." Before she could finish her sentence, poor Qian Duoduo was already in a familiar embrace. Her body was held tightly, her nose was buried in his chest, and the man's broad chest, even through his shirt, exuded an alluring tree scent. Her breathing was out of control, and even though her nose hurt, she couldn't help but greedily inhale.
There was a voice above him, still laughing, his chest vibrating, "Duoduo, you look so cute when you're jealous."
How infuriating! He even dared to laugh. I tried to break free, but his arms tightened around me, his pleasure undisguised. That burning sensation returned, my skin trembled and tingled, my body felt saturated with satisfaction, like a cat that had just been fed and then left to bask in the sun until its fur and paws were ruffled. When someone finally picked me up, I had no reaction left, only the feeling of enjoyment.
As she landed on the bed, she sighed inwardly. How shameful! She couldn't control herself and let him take advantage of her like this. But it was too pleasurable. When their lips met, she couldn't help but moan. Her saliva was sweet. He suddenly thrust in, and the immense pleasure made her heart pound. Her body was weak and limp. She was in a daze. Oh well, the principled Qian Duoduo finally gave up pausing for breath and surrendered again.
They made love for a long and passionate time on the bed. The window was open; it was a high floor, and the summer night was windy, making the curtains rustle. The moonlight shone unobstructed on his young, smooth skin. She could see his beautifully sculpted body as soon as she opened her eyes, and she felt so happy that she couldn't possibly close her eyes.
After it was over, Qian Duoduo was still panting and unable to speak. She could only rest her head on his shoulder and be quiet for a moment. But after she caught her breath, she continued the previous topic, "You, you haven't answered my question yet."
As soon as she felt warm, he pulled her into his arms again. She was already very familiar with this position, so Qian Duoduo wasn't surprised. She simply placed her hands on his chest and waited for his reply.
The bedroom lights were off, but he smiled in the moonlight and softly replied with three words: "Don't worry."
Suddenly, her nose stung, and she couldn't speak. Qian Duoduo lowered her head and buried it in his shoulder without saying a word.
How could she be at ease? In all her years, this was the first time she had felt apprehensive about a man and a relationship. She loved this man and enjoyed the relationship, but he was still so young and wonderful. Yet, in the face of such immense joy, she felt fear. She feared that they would grow older, that he would face far greater temptations than she did, and that their relationship would ultimately not last.
That's ridiculous. This kind of anxiety and fear of loss is nothing like the Qian Duoduo of the past.
Feeling ashamed of herself and a little resentful, she pressed her body close to his and finally opened her mouth to bite him, letting out a childlike sigh.
He laughed as she bit him, grabbed her and turned her over, his eyes shining, and then lowered his head to kiss her restless lips again.
Suppressed and speechless, Qian Duoduo couldn't catch her breath, let out a cry, and surrendered once again.
Chapter Sixty-Nine
No matter how reluctant she was, Qian Duoduo didn't have the courage to stay out all night, and in the end she insisted on going home.
Having just expended so much energy, she was unsteady on her feet as she went upstairs. She tried to open the door several times but couldn't. Suddenly, the door opened from the inside, startling her. Only when she looked closely did she realize that it was her father who had opened the door.
"Dad, why aren't you asleep so late?" Qian Duoduo breathed a sigh of relief when she entered the room, relieved that it wasn't her mother. She asked in a low voice.
“Anyone can't sleep if they're thinking about something.” Mr. Qian stood to the side watching his daughter change her shoes, hesitant to speak.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Dad has always been a gentleman, and after retiring he's even more leisurely. It's rare to see him looking so troubled, so Qian Duoduo continued to ask.
"It's nothing. Your mom's been really bothered lately. She talked to me for ages about you last night, and it kept me up."
These words immediately struck Qian Duoduo hard. The only thing troubling her mother right now was her daughter's marriage. She had indeed tried her best, but the result proved once again that she couldn't fulfill her mother's great wish immediately.
Feeling utterly ashamed of her father's acting skills while he ate fish, Qian Duoduo sincerely grabbed her father's hand, bowed her head, and confessed, "Dad, I'm sorry."