"This is……"
“Sleeping pills,” Qian Pan said in a low voice. “Miss Fang’s health has been very poor lately. She hasn’t slept for three days. Just before coming up here, she almost fainted at the company. Her mental state hasn’t been good either; she’s been overly anxious. The doctor prescribed her medication, but sometimes she’s feeling disoriented. I was worried that she might take the wrong medication, so I’ve been keeping all her medications safe…” She then added with a bitter smile, “I’m so sorry, so very sorry… I didn’t know you were also at the hotel. Fang Nan hasn’t slept for three days, and she even resists sleeping. I asked her to rest, but she refused… I had no choice but to resort to some underhanded methods.”
"oh?"
"Yes, just now, when Mr. Qiao and Ms. Fang were almost finished talking, I put a little sleeping pill in Ms. Fang's tea... Don't worry, it's fast-acting and has no toxic side effects. It's just to help her get a good night's sleep." Qian Pan sighed, "I'm afraid Ms. Fang will scold me severely when she wakes up and finds out."
I replied solemnly, "Thank you! Don't worry, she won't scold you. You're doing this for her own good!"
I frowned deeply... Has Fang Nan's health deteriorated this much lately? Three days without sleep... and she even fainted? Is it due to excessive anxiety?
“Actually, I know you must have a lot of questions,” Qian Pan said slowly. “But I’m just her secretary, and there are many things I don’t know the details of. I can only tell you what I know.”
"Hmm!" I looked at Qian Pan very seriously.
"Chen Yang...you...um, I don't know how to say this. Uh...you and Miss Fang are already together, right?" Qian Pan hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing her words.
I felt a little awkward and gave a wry smile: "Well... our relationship is a bit complicated... well, I guess we're together."
"Well, you should know something about Miss Fang's family background, right?"
"I know." I nodded.
"That's good." Qian Pan said in a low voice, "I've worked at Deep Blue Entertainment for many years, and I've been working alongside Miss Fang since she started the company. I know very well how much effort Miss Fang has put into this company... But just a few days ago, she suddenly told me in private that she was planning to transfer the company."
"Why?!" I sat up straight and stared intently at Qian Pan.
“I’m not quite sure.” Qian Pan shook her head. “The only thing I know is… it seems to be related to her family background. Miss Fang’s relationship with her family is very complicated… I know her family has a powerful background and a lot of influence… but she seems to be at odds with her family and rarely contacts them. But this time, it seems she’s under pressure from her family… it seems someone in her family doesn’t want her to continue doing business, saying it will have a negative impact on the family. Actually, Miss Fang has been under this pressure for years, but her relationship with her family has been very strained, and she has never been willing to compromise. But this time, it seems she has reached some kind of agreement with her family. And the condition of the agreement is that she closes this company, withdraws from the business world, and gives up her career.”
"Why..." I blurted out, wanting to ask why, but before I could finish the last word, a sudden thought struck me!
Did you reach an agreement with your family? To give up your career?
An agreement has been reached?
I suddenly remembered what Wu Gang had said: "This opportunity was obtained for you by Fang Nan!"
Could it be... because of me?
“Actually, Miss Fang has been under a lot of pressure from her family while running this company. She's a woman, and her family background is…sigh. With her status, her family is strongly opposed to her going out into business. And now, I don't know what the agreement she reached with her family is for…Recently, Miss Fang has suspended several projects in the company, it seems she's really preparing to close it down…Mr. Qiao is one of the buyers, and he's been talking to Miss Fang for a long time. Mr. Qiao's offer is quite good, but I don't know why Miss Fang has been hesitant to make a decision…” Qian Pan said, giving me a deep look, and said in a meaningful low voice, “Perhaps…it's because of you.”
I stopped talking.
He couldn't say anything more...
I really want to talk to Fang Nan face-to-face right now and get to the bottom of this!
Just for me? She pleaded with her family for my sake, and she really gave up her career?
My feelings were complicated, and I couldn't help but pick up my cup and take a sip of tea...
So bitter! So astringent!
I took a deep breath. My smile was forced: "Thank you for telling me all this."
“Well, you two can have a good talk after Miss Fang wakes up.” Qian Pan sighed. “I’m really worried about her health… Her mental state has been very poor lately, and her physical condition is also very bad. I’m worried that if this continues, she might not be able to hold on.”
I nodded solemnly and seriously.
Just then, my phone beeped. I took it out and glanced at it; it was an unfamiliar number. When I answered, it was Qiaoqiao's father's voice on the other end.
"Kid, if you have time, keep this old man company for a chat and a drink." His words sounded like an invitation, but his tone left no room for argument: "I'll be waiting for you in the rooftop coffee shop of the hotel."
After saying that, the phone was hung up before I could even reply.
I'm not surprised that Qiaoqiao's father had my phone number; it's not surprising that he had the power to do that.
I don't refuse to meet and talk with him, after all, we have a lot of things to clarify in person.
But... Fang Nan...
I couldn't help but glance at the bedroom door. I couldn't leave Fang Nan in this state.
Qian Pan was very experienced. After all, she had been a secretary for many years and was adept at reading people. As soon as she saw my expression after I finished the call, she guessed my predicament and immediately asked, "Is something wrong? Are you worried about Miss Fang?"
I nodded.
She smiled and said, "You can go ahead and do what you need to do... This sleeping pill is very effective. After taking it, it will guarantee that Miss Fang will sleep soundly for at least eight hours. Just be back within eight hours. I think... if you are the first person she sees when she wakes up, she will be very happy."
"Thank you!" I said sincerely, and then immediately got up to take my leave.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her and take care of her." Qian Pan is truly a competent and good secretary.
After leaving the room, I only took Tu with me and we took the elevator all the way to the top floor of the hotel.
This is a business club, specifically designed as a business café for distinguished hotel guests. The environment is upscale, elegantly decorated, and the atmosphere is quiet and dignified.
I strode in, followed by Tu, whose face was cold and indifferent. As soon as I entered, I saw Qiaoqiao's father sitting in a small, open-plan private room at the very back. He was sitting on a gray fabric sofa, a cigar dangling from his lips, and an inscrutable smile on his face. His two henchmen stood at the door of the private room.
I went inside and told Tu to wait for me outside.
"You're here? Have a seat." Qiaoqiao's father waved his hand.
I sat down immediately.
"The tea here is quite good. Please try some."
I picked up the cup and took a sip.
Qiaoqiao's father smiled and said, "Do you know why I called you here to talk?"
"I know a little." I nodded.
"So, what do you want to say to me?"
"No discussion." I shook my head firmly.
"What did you say?" Qiaoqiao's father began to frown.
I looked at him with neither arrogance nor servility, and slowly said, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to be disrespectful to you... but this matter is non-negotiable."
"Hmph!" Qiao Qiao's father snorted heavily, "But she is my daughter! She is my daughter, Qiao's daughter!!" He slammed his hand on the table.
"I know." I forced myself to speak. "I know I'm in the wrong in this matter. But... there's no room for negotiation. I can't let her go home... she won't, and I won't either."
"Ha!" Qiaoqiao's father laughed angrily, "So... you're actually resorting to these shameless tricks with me? Humph! Chen Yang, you do have some influence now, but do you think you can just take my daughter away? Let me tell you! This isn't Vancouver!"
I tried to appear calm: "Uncle Joe..."
"Don't call me uncle, I don't deserve it."
I gave a bitter laugh. "Alright, Mr. Qiao. First of all, I didn't force her... Well, let me put it this way, Qiao Qiao wanted to be with me. You saw it yourself, she went home once, but then ran away again... Of course, I know I'm in the wrong. No father would want his daughter with a man like me... But I've thought about this. When I'm facing you, I can only put on a tough front. You can hit me or scold me, I'll take it all, because I know I have no right to this. You can do whatever you want... But there's one condition: unless Qiao Qiao says she wants to leave, I will absolutely not let her go home."
"..." Qiaoqiao's father was probably too angry to speak. He stared at me for a long time without saying a word.
I'm actually quite frustrated... In this kind of situation, even if I take it to court anywhere, I'm in the wrong. But there's nothing I can do... there's just nothing I can do.
Even if it's wrong, I have no choice but to grit my teeth and stick to it.
"Really no discussion?" he suddenly asked me coldly.
"No discussion." I answered decisively.
"Hmph! Fine!" He took a deep drag on his cigar, then slowly exhaled, glaring at me through gritted teeth. "Fine! You say this matter is non-negotiable, then what about the others?"
"Others?" A thought struck me, and I looked at him warily.
"For example... Fang Nan's company, is there any room for negotiation on this matter?" Qiao Qiao's father squinted at me, looking like a typical old fox.
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter Fifty: Establishing Oneself
Qiaoqiao's father was smiling like an old fox. He squinted at me, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes from time to time.
I didn't say anything, pretending to be calm, but deliberately made slow movements as I reached into my shirt pocket.
I deliberately dawdled for a long time, pretending to have felt all the pockets of my shirt, but deliberately not answering his questions. Then, when I finally reached my pants pocket, Qiaoqiao's father finally got impatient and threw a pack of cigarettes onto the table.
"Let's try this one."
I glanced at it and shook my head: "I don't smoke blended cigarettes. Do you have any flue-cured cigarettes?"
"Hmph!" Qiaoqiao's father waved his hand, and soon a waiter came up and brought a pack of cigarettes.
"Kid, stop stalling." He looked at me. "Is this question so hard to answer? Hmph... Do you need to think about it for so long?"
"No, it's actually not hard to answer." I lit a cigarette and smiled. "I can answer this question without even thinking about it... but I deliberately didn't speak just now because I was considering it..."
What are you considering?
I sighed: "Think about how to say it so that you won't get too angry."
Qiaoqiao's father's face stiffened for a moment, then his expression darkened: "What? Are you trying to refuse me?"
"Sorry," I shrugged, "this issue is non-negotiable."
Seeing that Qiaoqiao's father was about to explode, I quickly explained, "First of all, this company doesn't belong to me; it belongs to Fang Nan. I have no right to make any decisions for her."
"Hmph, don't try to play games with me!" Qiao Qiao's father said unhappily, "Fang Nan's meaning is very clear, she wants to transfer the company to you... As long as you are willing to withdraw, I can take over the company smoothly."
"It still doesn't work." I shook my head. "I can't answer that question. I'm not qualified to answer it."
There's no room for negotiation on this issue either.
The reason is simple... If Fang Nan really wants to give me the company... In this situation, if I agree to Qiao Qiao's father's request, wouldn't I be hurting Fang Nan and betraying her good intentions?
From any standpoint, I cannot do this.
As for Qiaoqiao's father...
well!
I sighed.
Deep down, I really wanted to do something for Qiaoqiao's father. Regardless, Qiaoqiao and I have already made our relationship clear, so I must respect her father, treat him as an elder, even… he's practically like my father-in-law. Like all sons-in-law, I secretly hope to please him, to do things that will make him happy…
Moreover, I'm still somewhat in the wrong regarding my relationship with Qiaoqiao. I really want to do something to make amends.
But the request made by Qiaoqiao's father... was related to Fang Nan.
This isn't a problem with just one company... nor is it a problem with money.
This company represents Fang Nan's heartfelt wishes and deep affection! These are priceless! Can heartfelt wishes and deep affection be transferred?
Obviously not!