Si Meiqi Groups’s young master and CEO Chen Zheng, had been in an inexplicable mood, yet somewhat impatient for the past few days.
For example, at the moment, his right eye has twitched, for who knew what reason.
He didn’t believe in feng shui omens, but believed in his intuition. He leaned into the easy chair, closing his eyes, and began recalling the events of these past few days.
“Carcinogen” scandal, of course, was the biggest thing, but still manageable. Consumers are forgetful creatures. Just be patient, the thunder would pa.s.s, and their sales would be back soon.
Projects with the Ming Sheng Group were being negotiated well. Despite Xin Baori being a strong rival, they had their order in the bag. As for Ai Da, they used to be the biggest compet.i.tor, but now, it was laughable.
What’s else?
He thought for a moment, then called the a.s.sistant.
“Give them a call and ask how those two are doing.” He mused.
His aide understood the hint that “those two” meant the spies he buried in Xin Baori and Ai Da.
The man at Xin Baori reported that there was still production of new bags, but the launch of new products was suspended due to the scandal.
Chen Zheng was satisfied. Xin Baori was currently the industry leader, their att.i.tude was good.
The second person he called, the call was shut down. Chen Zheng looked down and sat up straight, calling again.
It was shut down again.
The a.s.sistant hesitated: “Maybe the electricity went out? I’ll go check.”
Chen Zheng looked dignified, waved him away.
In the Chair again for a while, he pulled out his cellphone, pulls out a number from the address book.
Lin Qian.
In his 28 years, she was the only woman he sent flowers to, and the only woman who made him lose face.
He’d heard she’d gone to Ai Da and been promoted to a high position. Looking at it, this woman was really completely ignoring her ex-boss.
Chen Zheng smiled, pressing the dial b.u.t.ton, and put the phone to his ear.
“I’m sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off……”
Chen Zheng left his cell phone on the table and called his a.s.sistant again, and commanded: “Ai Da is wrong, recently a big move is possible. Gu Yanzhi has potential, and who knows what he will do. You find out. ”
——
Low and deep darkness, no stars on the sky, only few scattered lights in the park flashed silently.
Li Zhicheng walked ahead of Lin Qian. Some three or four hundred metres across the building were the dorms.
The gray cement pavement was smooth, Lin Qian’s boots slipped slightly as she walked, her footsteps making a soft sound. She looked up at him, a straight and quiet figure, cap covering his eyes.
“I don’t know when it will snow this year. “Lin Qian said to herself.
She thought he wouldn’t speak, but she heard a cold and deep voice issue: “Do you want snow?”
Lin Qian raised her eyes and looked, he still had hands his hands in his trouser pockets, walking with long strides, his spoken words creating clouds of white air.
“Yes Ah.” Lin Qian laughed and replied, “I think snow is cool, and I enjoy it.”
“There will be snow tomorrow.”
Lin Qian was slightly dazed, he had already arrived at the dormitory door, he pulled it open and stood back.
Weather forecast did not say that there will be snow.
Is this man a military genius of wilderness survival skills? Being able to look at the sky to know the wind and rain.
She had to say, the breed that was soldiers, no matter in what situation, were practical and useful to have ah.
——
Two people entered the dorm.
Sensor lights instantly, and as Lin Qian walked beside so tall a guy, she felt the corridor was narrow. Lin Qian’s room was the first one on the left. She rubbed her ice-cold hands, and then used to the key to open the door, and was stunned.
Was she seeing things? Out of the corner of her eye she seemed to have glimpsed a shadow quickly flashing past.
She immediately turned around and looked at Li Zhicheng, found that his face had changed colour, and his dark eyes stared straight ahead.
She wasn’t wrong, there really was someone. All the other people had been working hard the whole day, and were asleep in their own rooms.
Lin Qian breathed shallowly, voice low: “You go to the guard at the gate, I’ll stay and act as watchman. We can’t act rashly. ”
She tiptoed a step, then felt a penetrating stare being levelled at her.
Li Zhicheng was looking at her, eyes clear and pressing.
Lin Qian gave him a meaningful look: what’s up? Go on!
She hadn’t finished giving him her meaningful look when she felt a gentle but firm push at her waist: “Quiet. Go back in the room.” She heard his concise and forceful voice, his clear eyes almost within reach of her[1].
He didn’t listen to her command, and in turn gave her instructions.
Before the door opens fully, she stumbled but then she felt a firm force guide her, hand at the waist, since the room is pitch black. Then she was inside, the door closing behind her with a click.
Lin Qian was stunned for a moment, then turned around, using all her strength to reach up to the peephole and looked outside.
Li Zhicheng was worthy of “big cat” t.i.tle she has given him, walking without a sound, so that she did not know which direction he went in. It was quiet in the corridors, her side having no movement.
Lin Qian maintained the tight awkward postures to monitor for a while, then finally tired, straightened out.
She kicked her boots off, walked back to the bed, and lay down.
After a few minutes, there was a knock at the door.
The knocks were neither light nor heavy, but even and rhythmic.
Lin Qian got out of bed suspiciously, and sprawled at the peephole to look again: cap, black jacket, long legs…
She immediately opened the door.
Li Zhicheng stood in the light, and expressionlessly handed her a tube of ointment.
As if nothing had happened.
Lin Qian stood still, then seeing that no one was around, said in a low voice: “Come in.”
Li Zhicheng raised the eyebrow slightly, took two strides and walked into the room, looked at her but did not to talk, as if waiting to see the meaning of her actions.
Lin Qian gently closed the door: “How’s it going? What just happened? What did you see?”
Li Zhicheng was static for a moment, then replied: “No one.”
Lin Qian was not so sure: “Really?”
He looked at her eyes and then turned to the door.
Lin Qian grabbed him by the arm: “I’m not finished! Tomorrow, if I happen to be followed, you need to be my witness. That I was there with you, that I did not have any illegal doc.u.ment transaction with anyone.”
He turned to look at her, deep and powerful voice: “If you’re good, it will show.[2]”
Lin Qian: “Qie[3]! Bad people will con good-hearted fools!”Her voice was high.
He stared without talking, dark eyes on her.
He was a head taller than her, and now that they were standing so close, he almost killed all the light that would have reached her. Lin Qian felt uneasy at his fierce, dark-eyed stare: “What’s the matter?”
“Is something the matter? “He asked unhurriedly.
Lin Qian: “……No.”
He immediately pulled the door open.
He was gone, Lin Qian felt somewhat relieved.
This big cat, that occasionally was solemn and earnest, was quite extraordinary.
——
The next morning, it was calm. No one has been held accountable, nor was there a mention of anything strange last night.
Lin Qian had naturally not said anything.
After a few hours, however, she was called to Gu Yanzhi.
Even in the temporary building, Gu Yanzhi’s office was tastefully decorated. There was a small watermill on the boss’ dark desk, and a large screen which part.i.tioned the outside from the inside. Gu Yanzhi sat at his desk, looking well and very boss-like.
Lin Qian was infected by his att.i.tude. She felt that the public relation crises was largely under his control. She smiled and asked: “Gu Zong, you called?”
He tossed her a copy of a proposal: “Look, and make a suggestion.”
He was the head of working group, the one who was going to give the speech at tomorrow’s press conference. It was the most important part of the handling of the public relations crisis. Lin Qian looked carefully over a few lines
Is he as head of the group, in tomorrow’s press conference speech. This entire crisis PR links of the top priority. Lin light carefully took over, the central point of the argument was praise-worthy.
Statements were very clear and concise, bluntly powerful. And the apology part was very sincere and simple, no superfluous imagery and false words.
Lin Qian soon finished, and looked up at him: “I think it was well written.”
Gu Yanzhi stared at her with a faint smile: “It’s well written, of course, should I be writing poor proposals? I want constructive advice. ”
Lin Qian nor was usually not shy, after pondering for a short while, she said: “There are two places you can optimize. ”
Gu Yanzhi interested: “Speak.”
“One is a sign of weakness. For example, before with the melamine incident, the public blamed dairy companies, but few blamed the actual culprit: the dairy farmers. Because in most people’s psychology, including consumers, they are unwittingly sympathetic to the weak, not towards the bigger organisations.
In our case, Ai Da having operational difficulties is an objective fact. If we take the initiative and clearly show our weakness, we will be able to arouse the consumers’ compa.s.sion, and it will be easier for them to understand our side.”
Gu Yanzhi was noncommittal.
Lin Qian went on: “Second. I looked at pollution inspection reports, pollution of our handbags, is one of the lowest. Might as well make this data public.” She paused for a moment: “As soon as we publish the data, consumers react, will require other public data. So they… … Pressure will be even greater. ”
——
Lin Qian left, Gu Yanzhi held the proposal in his hand and went behind the part.i.tion, tossing it to, Li Zhicheng, who sat on the sofa.
Although Lin Qian had just mentioned the two points, they actually coincided with the viewpoints the two had been discussing earlier. Gu Yanzhi couldn’t help but squint in concentration and sigh and said: “I swear this woman, if a bit reserved, is extraordinary. A talent. Such a talent, how did Si Meiqi ever let her go?”
——
After “making a suggestion” in front of the boss, Lin Qian perceived a distinct increase in her workload.
Instead of just printing copies, making tea, and other errands, she also began writing, and was involved in a number of doc.u.ments, especially for foreign liason.
As time went on, the preparatory work was completed, and the atmosphere of the Working Group became increasingly tight. Lin Qian felt it was very busy, but actually only three days had pa.s.sed.
In the meantime, she occasionally saw Li Zhicheng only one or two times, or together with the other security guards. Someone saw and asked her: “Who is that man? Never seen him before.”
Lin Qian: “That should be a new security manager. You don’t know? Veteran, responsible and good, just doesn’t speak too much.”
Morning of the fourth day, after as Li Zhicheng had said, a night after heavy snowfall, finally came to the news conference.
——
Conference venue, set at the centre of North Sea Sheng Ting Hotel.
At eight o’clock in the morning, media have even comes into play. Conference Hall has been arranged neatly, light flowers, audio video equipment, an almost combat-like readiness.
Lin Qian’s task today was in line with Administration supervisor on site. She was dressed in standard dark business suit in heels and makeup, all morning she roved about the venue.
Others are equally busy. Even Gu Yanzhi was said to have locked himself in a hotel room, drilling his announcement speech.
Lin Qian checked the site again. Down the corridor, she saw Li Zhicheng.
It wasn’t just her who noticed him, due to the comings and goings of staff, there are many people who raised eyebrows.
He was somewhat different.
Not wearing his trademark cap, revealing dark soft hair, a more chiselled face peeking out. Large dark eyes, high cheekbones, lightly pursed lips, white skin.
He was also wearing an athletic jacket, but a long black overcoat on top, and a white shirt underneath. His long black legs looked even longer.
He stood with his hands in his coat pockets, next to a lamp. He seemed as if to glow.
His gaze swept across, and landing on Lin Qian, stopped for a moment, then swept on without expression.
Lin Qian “managed” a smile. Today the guards were dressed in black suits, his change in attire was taken for granted.
Was about to walk over to speak to him when her cell phone rang.
Since it was the conference day, there was no need for confidentiality anymore, since it was too late for the compet.i.tors to do anything, and so everyone’s regular cell phones had been returned.
Lin Qian look at the numbers, was static for a moment, then picked up.
Unexpected the call was from – her ex direct supervisor from when she worked at Si Meiqi, the Marketing Manager.
“Su Manager, h.e.l.lo.” Lin Qian greeted and laughed lightly.
Manager Su is 30 year old woman, her tone was both firm and gentle: “Lin Qian, how’ve you been? After you left, you’ve been out of touch for a long time. I’m really sorry…”
Lin Qian could guess her reason for calling.
Today, there was such a big event, Chen Zheng must have wanted to be sure of Ai Da’s moves, and sent people to find out.
Speaking of Chen Zheng, initially Lin Qian had a really good impression of him. Young heir, daring, decisive and ready, everyone praising his young talent.
But she’d no idea what got into the heir’s eye. He began pursuing her, like forgetting that he was already engaged, and had the daughter of a certain company’s director as a fiancée.
“Come with me for three years, you can get most of what you want.” He had said.
Sure enough, after talking two sentences, Su manager suddenly turned directions, and asked: “Yeah, I heard that they were at a press conference today, is it about the pollution incident? How is Ai Da’s stance? What’s been prepared?”
Lin Qian paused.
In front of her a few metres away, reporters had already begun approaching. The wall at her side was filled with brochures she had been responsible for printing.
Lin Qian cleared her throat, and replied: “I don’t know. I’ve been at Ai Da not too long…” she took her phone towards the crowd so that her voice became fainter.
And then Chen Zheng’s voice came, a faint smile in it: “You don’t know? Aren’t you a member of the working group? Tsk tsk, just a few days of work and you’ve already become loyal to Ai Da.”
[1] Idiom basically meaning that he was really close. 近在咫尺(jìnzàizhǐchǐ)
[2] He uses the part of an idiom 清者自清 (qingzheziqing) from the idiom清者自清,浊者自浊 clear self is clear, dirty self is dirty. He means to say that if she’s innocent, no one will be able to frame her for distributing company secrets, which is what she’s worried about.
[3] It’s an exclamation equivalent to “Yeah, right!”.