Je ne serai pas ta poupée

Chapitre 23

Although the prices differ by more than ten times, the two cars looked so well-matched when they were parked there.

Qi Qi took a deep breath and ordered herself to calm down.

She had thought that Gao Jinze might come looking for her.

Unexpectedly, he was waiting for her in the parking lot.

Gao Jinze threw away his cigarette and walked over.

Qiqi looked at him with a smile.

His face was somewhat pale and haggard, and his hair had grown a little longer.

Qiqi suddenly felt a little sorry for him.

As Gao Jinze walked, he reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out two crumpled flyers.

Then, he crumpled the two pieces of paper into a ball and threw it hard at Qiqi's chest.

Qi Qi stared at Gao Jinze in astonishment, speechless.

"I initially thought you were a very aloof and ethical person, but I never expected—"

Qiqi slowly squatted down, picked up the crumpled paper, and unfolded it.

"Now every owner of Tianyuan Apartment has a copy! Even the Oriental Morning Post has reported on this!"

Qiqi's hands were trembling slightly.

The flyer's content was printed in lead type and was somewhat blurry. The main title was in large characters: "Tianyuan Apartment Feng Shui Appraisal Report." Next to it was a line of smaller print: "Confidential File of Xianzhi Company, Strictly Prohibited from Distributing."

Qi Qi vaguely recognized the first part of the report; it was the one Song Yu had written for her last time. But the second page was completely unfamiliar; Qi Qi was certain she had never seen it before. The language used was vicious, attacking the Tianyuan Apartment's terrible feng shui and predicting its imminent collapse. At the end of the second page, it was clearly signed: Yang Qi Qi, Head of the Shanghai Prophet Vermilion Bird Department.

Qiqi's hands were ice cold.

Gao Jinze leaned against the pillar and slumped down.

His voice was low and hoarse: "Many people have been against me, and I didn't care, but I never expected that the one who would stab me in the fatal wound would be you..."

Qiqi thought for a moment and said, "I will find out what happened and give you an explanation."

Gao Jinze gave a strange smile and said, "Why do you need an explanation? I'm not your general manager. I'm just here to ask you why you don't want the two million-plus house I offered you, but are willing to write a report that slanders the feng shui of Tianyuan Apartment for this mere 500,000 yuan!"

"Do you think I would give up more than two million that I could easily have for writing a report for half a million? A report is a printed document, and the name can be changed to anyone, including you, Gao Jinze!"

Gao Jinze's dry eyes darted around, but he didn't say anything.

Qi Qi sighed and said, "Sometimes there is unconditional trust between people. I don't know if that exists between you and me. As for whether I really wrote this report, I may never be able to provide proof. I just need your judgment now. If you say yes, then yes; if you say no, then no, okay?"

Qi Qi's gentle gaze met Gao Jinze's blank stare.

Gao Jinze's lips moved.

He stammered, "I don't want to believe it either... I really want to hear you deny it... If you deny it, I'll believe you didn't write it..."

Qi Qi shook her head and said, "I won't deny it. Because I can't provide convincing evidence. If this report has caused you harm, on behalf of my signature, I apologize..."

Qi Qi's voice lowered, and she stood up and looked up.

Gao Jinze suddenly bent down and saved Qi Qi's legs.

Qiqi reached out and gently smoothed his messy hair.

"I'm now certain it wasn't you! And I'm sure it was!"

Gao Jinze said, emphasizing each word.

"who?"

"President Yan!"

"General Manager Yan of Dilong Industry?"

"That's him! This guy is too cunning, the most treacherous I've ever seen in my life!"

"I heard that Dilong Industry is also going to buy Tianyuan Apartment?"

Gao Jinze raised his head, while Qi Qi lowered hers.

Gao Jinze nodded and said, "Yes. At the last board meeting, another major shareholder, Uncle Xu, who holds 40% of the shares, voted against it. He had his reasons. He said he had contacted Dilong Industry and they were willing to add two thousand to Wanjia's offer. Of course, I didn't object, so I let Uncle Xu handle the matter..."

"Stand up and speak," Qiqi said.

Gao Jinze braced himself with his hands on the ground, but couldn't stand up immediately. He cried out, "My legs are numb..."

Qiqi knelt down with concern and began to massage his calves.

Taking advantage of her momentary lapse in attention, Gao Jinze suddenly pecked her cheek.

Qi Qi was stunned and stared blankly at Gao Jinze.

Gao Jinze quickly apologized: "I'm sorry—I just didn't mean to… I mean, you look so beautiful when you're focused on your head…"

Qiqi's face flushed, her cheeks burning, and she was completely bewildered. A tingling sensation ran through her heart, a sense of chaos washed over her, and her mind went blank.

I've had my share of relationships over the years. I had two boyfriends during my school days, both of whom were my deskmates. We saw each other every day and knew each other very well. After graduation, I briefly changed jobs before joining Prophet Company.

Their ease at work, their profound expertise, and their aloof and arrogant personality often make them the envy of their male peers.

This also left Qiqi with no time to think about many things outside of work, such as other people's feelings, how others viewed her, or what others were thinking. All her time was occupied by her overwhelming work, leaving her no time to think about anything else.

Qiqi would definitely not consider a corporate client like Gao Jinze. She was an absolute perfectionist and couldn't allow herself to make such a basic mistake. She had considered the possibility of a relationship with Gao Jinze, but that would only happen after the current job was completely finished, with the two of them bumping into each other by chance at a small shop on Hengshan Road, following a typical trope and having a normal encounter.

Instead of this, after only knowing Gao Jinze for a month or two, I was being ambushed by him while we were discussing work. How could this happen?!

She was completely stunned, not knowing what to say or do in this situation, and could only let the flustered Gao Jinze apologize incessantly beside her.

Qiqi's mind went blank, and her ears seemed to have temporarily stopped working; she couldn't hear a word Gao Jinze was saying. She simply stood up slowly.

After a long while, she finally regained normal consciousness.

She shook her head.

I overheard Gao Jinze's last words: "...I promise it won't happen again!"

Qiqi thought to herself, "I didn't say I was unhappy..."

However, he wouldn't say it aloud, but continued the previous topic: "Dilong Industry's purpose is very clear. First, they used a price that was 2,000 yuan higher per square meter than Wanjia to induce Qianqiu and Wanjia to fail in their cooperation. Then, they used underhanded tricks to lower the price of Tianyuan Apartments, trying to take advantage of the situation!"

Gao Jinze was taken aback: "It really is... They were very proactive at first, negotiating with us every day, but then they just kept dragging their feet. Not only did they not fulfill their original offer, but their price kept getting lower and lower..."

Qi Qi said, "That's not surprising. This feng shui report, which is supposedly written in my name, was bought by General Manager Yan of Dilong Industry from Zhou Haisheng, the manager of the Vermilion Bird Department of our Xianzhi Company! Their purpose is nothing more than to suppress the price of Tianyuan Apartments and then buy them up at a low price!"

Gao Jinze suddenly realized and said, "Qiqi, the information you provided is too important! Now I understand everything! Once I understand one thing, everything else falls into place!"

Qi Qi asked, "I heard that Dilong Industry has Japanese investment background. Are you really going to sell Tianyuan Apartments to the Japanese?"

Gao Jinze shook his head firmly and said, "My great-grandfather was a deputy brigade commander under Li Zongren of the Guangxi clique. He died fighting the Japanese with bayonets during the Battle of Taierzhuang. Our family and the Japanese are sworn enemies!"

Qi Qi said, "Then you should hold on and see if there's any possibility of continuing negotiations with the Wan family."

Gao Jinze nodded and said, "It's probably difficult now... The Wan family is also lukewarm towards us. Because your appraisal report—I'm sorry, someone framed you for this—states with absolute certainty that Tianyuan Apartment will collapse on the night of August 12th! I think if Tianyuan Apartment doesn't collapse on the night of the 12th, the rumors will be disproven, the property value of Tianyuan Apartment will increase, and I won't be forced to sell the building to the Japanese!"

Qiqi suddenly remembered that August 12th was very dangerous.

Today is August 10th, and August 12th is the day after tomorrow!

"Why is August 12th so dangerous?" Gao Jinze asked, puzzled.

"The shape and color of Tianyuan Apartment belong to the Wood element in the Five Elements theory. This year is the Year of Ji Chou in the lunar calendar, and Earth is the 'Grand Duke Jupiter' (Tai Sui). This means that Tianyuan Apartment has been clashing with Tai Sui all year, rebelling against its superiors, which is why it has been so unlucky. On the 12th of August, the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch of the month are 'Ren Shen', and the Earthly Branch 'Shen' is Metal, which clashes with the Wood element of Tianyuan Apartment. The Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch of the 12th of August are exactly the same as this year's Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch, 'Ji Chou', which is the same as the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch of Tai Sui. Therefore, on this day, the 'Great Emptiness' of Tianyuan Apartment, combined with the 'Reverse Bow' force of the Pudian River, could very well cause disaster simultaneously, leading to the collapse of Tianyuan Apartment!"

Gao Jinze gasped, speechless with shock.

Qiqi said, "Don't worry, let me think of another way..."

Gao Jinze murmured, "Only two days left... but most of the owners still don't believe Tianyuan Apartments will collapse. They say it's a rumor spread by Qianqiu to lower the compensation price. So they're still living in Building C of Tianyuan Apartments. If what you say is true, I really—can't believe the consequences—"

Qiqi comforted him, saying, "Don't worry, there's always a way..."

Actually, Qiqi had no choice.

"The Great Void" has no solution.

Gao Jinze asked, "Then, is it alright to find a high monk to perform a ritual now? As long as we can get through the 12th of August safely, I don't care how much it costs!"

Qi Qi shook her head and said, "It's too late... This kind of ritual takes half a month to take effect, and everyone in the building has to come out first."

Gao Jinze was extremely worried.

Qi Qi said, "After all, we still have two days. I'll definitely come up with a solution! Let's split up now. You go and reinforce the foundation of Tianyuan Apartment. I'll go home now and ask my mom. She's an old sorcerer; maybe she has a solution!"

Gao Jinze clicked his tongue in astonishment: "Your mother knows feng shui too, you come from a family of feng shui masters! Linzi has been saying that the relevant departments don't allow Tianyuan Apartment to start reinforcement work without permission..."

Qi Qi stamped her foot and said, "If Tianyuan Apartment collapses without being reinforced, will anyone from the 'relevant departments' take responsibility? There's no time now! We have to act first and report later, and reinforce it first!"

Gao Jinze thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but Lin Zai happened to go back to the Guangzhou headquarters today to report on the negotiations with Dilong Industry. I can only arrange a few workers to reinforce it myself. What a headache."

Qi Qi said earnestly, "You are the general manager of Shanghai Qianqiu. You can't rely on that Lin guy for everything."

Gao Jinze was taken aback by her words. After thinking for a moment, he said, "It really is true. Maybe Lin is too capable. I don't have to lift a finger to do anything... I should share some of the burden with him in the future."

Qiqi said, "You hurry up and get the foundation reinforced, better late than never. As for the 'Great Empty City' issue, wait for my call!"

Gao Jinze said, "On August 12th, I will be in Room A, 8th Floor, Building C, Tianyuan Apartment all day. You can find me anytime."

Qi Qi exclaimed urgently, "Oh no, you can't stay in Building C of Tianyuan Apartment. What if it collapses—"

Gao Jinze's eyes shone brightly as he said, "Qiqi, I believe you can resolve the 'Great Void' that even feng shui masters can't fix, so I will live with the owner of the building that bought my company."

Qi Qi closed her eyes, calmed herself down, then opened them and said, "Okay, if you believe me, I can do it!"

Qiqi opened the Beetle door, got in, started the engine, and stepped on the gas. The car drew a beautiful, perfectly timed arc past Gao Jinze and then accelerated onto the exit lane.

"Mom...I have a question I'd like to ask you..."

Qiqi picked up her bowl and said to her mother, who had already eaten dinner and was watching CBN's "Company Time".

"Stop arguing, I'm looking at Meng Cheng... Look, how handsome this young man is, and he speaks so aptly, Mom loves to hear him."

Qiqi pushed the bowl away, pouting, and said, "All you care about is stocks, you don't care about your daughter at all!"

Mom took a break from the commercial break, turned to look at Qiqi who was sulking, and said, "What's wrong? You've been absent-minded since you got home today, and you're an hour late. Tell me, do you have a boyfriend?"

Qiqi blushed bright red and said shyly, "What boyfriend? He doesn't even qualify!"

Mom was overjoyed, forgetting about Meng Cheng, and came over to ask, "Is he as handsome as Meng Cheng? What does he do for a living?"

Qiqi glanced at her mother speechlessly and said, "He's a different type, but still very handsome. He's the general manager of a real estate company."