The following day, Qi Mu arrived punctually outside the Song’an Building. This time, he came alone. First, he was afraid that Jiang Shao might act willfully and ruin matters. Second… he was not entirely certain that yesterday’s phone call had been real. He worried that it might have been a hallucination brought on by excessive stress…
Otherwise, how could the situation have suddenly taken such a dramatic turn?
After all, the Qi family had no personal connection with Cheng Huai Song, and the two companies were not even on the same level. Why would Cheng Huai Song suddenly take the initiative?
Countless questions lingered in Qi Mu’s mind. For once, he hesitated, afraid that this trip would only end in disappointment again.
But he could not give up this opportunity.
Qi Mu took a deep breath and walked inside. Unlike last time, shortly after he registered at the reception desk, a young man came downstairs to greet him.
The man smiled and said, “I’m Chairman Cheng’s secretary. Chairman Cheng has been expecting you. Please follow me.”
Qi Mu felt as though he were walking on clouds as he followed the secretary to the office on the top floor. The older man inside looked just as amiable as he did on television. He rose with a smile to shake Qi Mu’s hand, then invited him to sit and talk.
“President Qi truly is young and accomplished,” Cheng Huai Song said with a hearty laugh.
The treatment was entirely different from yesterday’s.
Qi Mu sat tensely across from Cheng Huai Song, his voice somewhat stiff. “Thank you, Chairman Cheng, for being willing to give us this opportunity. I promise that nothing like this will happen again. We will certainly—”
Cheng Huai Song smiled and waved a hand. “We’re not discussing that today.”
Qi Mu’s expression stiffened, and his heart sank. Could it be…
Then he heard Cheng Huai Song continue, “Qi Corporation has always been one of our high-quality suppliers. We have worked together for so many years, so naturally, we have at least this much trust in you. An occasional delayed delivery is no great matter. Song’an Group will not be affected by something so minor, so President Qi needn’t take it to heart.
“Moreover, your willingness to voluntarily request a delay rather than conceal the problem demonstrates precisely how honest and responsible Qi Corporation is. Why should I worry about a reliable supplier like you? And since we intend to maintain a long-term partnership, there is no need to mention contractual penalties and damage our relationship.”
Qi Mu asked dazedly, “Really?”
His face immediately reddened after the word escaped him. He had accidentally voiced his thoughts aloud and was just about to explain.
But Cheng Huai Song burst into laughter. Looking at Qi Mu as though he were a younger member of the family, he teased, “Of course it’s true.”
Qi Mu looked somewhat embarrassed. He composed himself and said with genuine sincerity, “Thank you, Chairman Cheng. I will make certain not to disappoint your trust.”
Cheng Huai Song nodded and said casually, “Then we’ll postpone delivery by one month. President Qi, will you have any difficulty completing the order within that time?”
Qi Mu answered solemnly, “No.”
“Then it’s settled.” Cheng Huai Song smiled before changing the subject. “Speaking of which, the business community in our city has promising successors now that it has hardworking and dependable young people like you. That is truly reassuring. We should interact more often in the future. President Qi, there is no need to be so restrained around me.”
Cheng Huai Song was not only the chairman of Song’an Group but also the president of the city’s chamber of commerce. He held an eminent position within City C’s business community, so it was exceedingly rare for him to speak with such familiarity.
Qi Mu was overwhelmed by the favor. “Chairman Cheng is too kind.”
They exchanged a few casual remarks afterward. When Qi Mu finally walked out of the Song’an Building, he still felt as though he were dreaming. He pinched his palm forcefully, and the pain cleared and steadied his thoughts.
Only then did the joy buried deep within him slowly and belatedly begin to surface.
So the problem that had caused him endless worry had been resolved just like that.
Had the company also overcome its crisis?
…
Because he had promised Cheng Huai Song that the order would be delivered within a month, the production schedule remained tight. Over the following days, Qi Mu was occupied with manufacturing matters and had no time to concern himself with Jiang Shao. Even when they occasionally encountered each other by chance at the company, they merely passed one another like strangers.
Busyness prevented a person from dwelling upon many unnecessary things.
Qi Mu now devoted all his attention to work.
On Monday morning, after arranging the company’s affairs, Qi Mu decided to inspect the factory.
When he went downstairs, Driver Zhou had already brought the car around and was waiting. Qi Mu opened the door and climbed inside. Only after raising his head did he notice a familiar person sitting in the front passenger seat.
Qi Mu’s expression froze for a fraction of a second. After a moment, he slowly asked, “Why is he here?”
Driver Zhou looked puzzled. “President Qi, weren’t you the one who asked Xiao Jiang to come along?”
Qi Mu was just about to say, It wasn’t me. I didn’t…
Jiang Shao turned his head to look back at him, the corner of his lips lifting. “Sister Xiao Hui told me President Qi was going to the factory. She said young people should take the initiative at work and that I should accompany President Qi more often to learn from you. I won’t learn anything by staying in the office all day. President Qi wouldn’t object, would you?”
As he spoke the final sentence, he drew out the ending and looked deeply at Qi Mu with his dark eyes, as though genuinely awaiting his approval.
Qi Mu said, “…Of course not.”
Driver Zhou laughed cheerfully and praised him. “What a sensible and eager young man. Wouldn’t you agree, President Qi?”
Qi Mu replied, “…Yes.”
He closed his eyes numbly.
The words Xiao Jiang and Sister Xiao Hui circled repeatedly through his mind. He felt even more dazed than he had in Cheng Huai Song’s office the previous week.
The shock was so great that it made him appear calm instead.
So how had things ended up like this?
But Qi Mu soon had no time to think about it.
The car arrived at the factory complex.
The factory manager, Cai De Hai, came out to welcome Qi Mu.
Cai De Hai appeared to be in his fifties. He wore blue work clothes, had a graying buzz cut, and possessed a stern, unsmiling appearance.
Qi Mu could not be bothered trying to guess what the Long Aotian was thinking. Jiang Shao could go wherever he pleased. Qi Mu would simply treat him as a decorative object and focus on his own work.
He followed Cai De Hai to inspect the progress of production and discuss the problems they had recently encountered. He repeatedly emphasized that quality had to be guaranteed, personally examined the newly produced components, and checked every detail with great care and responsibility.
Jiang Shao followed slowly behind Qi Mu, neither too close nor too far away.
From the moment Qi Mu entered the factory, he devoted himself entirely to work and did not look back at Jiang Shao even once, as though he simply regarded him as nonexistent.
Jiang Shao did not mind. He merely observed the man in silence.
Qi Mu, who ordinarily wore impeccably tailored suits as though prepared to attend a cocktail party at any moment, was somewhat different here from what Jiang Shao had imagined.
In Jiang Shao’s impression, Qi Mu was either processing tedious documents in his office, examining contractual clauses, or exchanging hypocritical pleasantries with various clients. He behaved like those financial and business elites, almost like a false person whose parameters had been predetermined, perfectly conforming to every stereotype.
But here, Qi Mu did not care whether grease from the components stained his clothes or whether the production tools lacked an attractive appearance. He blended in naturally with the workers, spoke knowledgeably when discussing details, and could even analyze problems alongside the engineers.
Moreover, he was exceptionally focused at that moment.
The man had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing a length of cool, fair forearm covered by a thin layer of muscle. Everything was perfectly proportioned, with smooth, beautiful lines like a marble sculpture. The contour of his profile looked cold and sharp, and his gold-rimmed glasses rested upon the bridge of his nose. Occasionally, they slipped slightly as he spoke, and he would casually push them back up with the back of his hand. His usually gentle face had become serious and focused, yet somehow that only made it even more captivating.
Jiang Shao did not even notice that from the moment he entered the factory, his gaze had remained fixed upon Qi Mu’s face without leaving it for a single instant.
Jiang Shao himself did not understand why he had come today.
He could have completely ignored Zhan Xiao Hui. Yet when she approached and told him to accompany Qi Mu, not only had he felt no displeasure at being lectured, but his body had reacted even faster than his reason, almost as though… he had been waiting for an excuse to approach Qi Mu.
Why?
Jiang Shao pressed his lips together. Snapping out of his nearly bewitched state as though burned, he shifted his gaze away from the man ahead.
Of course he had not come because he wanted to see Qi Mu. He merely wanted to see when Qi Mu would reveal his true face.
Jiang Shao looked away somewhat unnaturally.
Although he deliberately refused to look at the person ahead, Qi Mu’s voice still reached him from time to time.
The man’s cool, clear voice articulated every word distinctly, with measured cadence and perfect organization, like a clear spring flowing slowly through a mountain ravine. Jiang Shao was not listening attentively, and the words gradually blurred, yet the awareness of Qi Mu’s presence still surrounded him from every direction.
There was no escaping it.
…
Qi Mu spent the entire morning working at the factory and inspected every stage of production. When he finally finished and turned around, he discovered that Jiang Shao was still nearby and had not left.
The young man stood lazily with both hands in his pockets. He was not looking at Qi Mu and appeared almost to be asleep. But… surely he could not actually sleep while standing?
Qi Mu tentatively took two steps toward the exit.
The man who had appeared to be in standby mode abruptly raised his eyes. His gaze was extremely sharp for an instant, but it quickly faded back into indifference, as though his expression were asking, Can we finally leave now?
Looking at the man who had followed him without taking a single step away, like a shadow, Qi Mu appeared helpless. After a moment of silence, he finally said, “I still have a few things to discuss with Engineer Cai. Wait for me outside.”
This was the first thing Qi Mu had voluntarily said to him today—no, in an entire week—and it was merely to send him away.
Heh. What shameful matter did they need to exclude him to discuss?
The corner of Jiang Shao’s mouth twisted mockingly, yet he pretended to obey and turned away.
Seeing that Jiang Shao had finally left, Qi Mu relaxed slightly. He followed Cai De Hai into a nearby electrical-distribution room and even deliberately closed the door.
Qi Mu took an envelope from inside his jacket and pressed it into Cai De Hai’s hands. “Uncle Cai, take this.”
Cai De Hai had always been rigorous and unsmiling at work. He was a taciturn man who was poor with words, but one glance was enough to tell him the envelope contained money. He immediately tried to push it back, his voice deep and weathered. “I can’t accept this.”
Qi Mu said, “Uncle Cai, there is no need to be polite with me.”
Cai De Hai’s face reddened with urgency. Unable to express himself properly, he could only repeat, “The company has already helped me so much. I truly cannot accept this money!”
Qi Mu looked at him with calm, gentle eyes. “Uncle Cai, you have worked beside my father for more than twenty years. That is why I address you as uncle. You have devoted yourself diligently to the company all these years, and both my father and I have seen it. In my heart, you are no different from family. Now Auntie is ill, Xiao Sheng is still studying, and the entire family depends upon you. This is precisely when you need money.”
Cai De Hai said anxiously, “But… but…”
Qi Mu forcibly pushed the envelope into his hands and said slowly and sincerely, “This did not come from the company. It is a small personal gesture from me. Are you going to refuse that too?”
Cai De Hai’s eyes reddened. The envelope felt hot in his hands, but when he met Qi Mu’s earnest gaze, he remained silent for a long time before finally accepting it. “Then consider it a loan from your uncle. You can rest assured about the factory. There is absolutely no possibility of this batch developing a problem while it is under my supervision.”
Qi Mu did not argue over that point. He merely smiled casually. “All right. Then I’ll be relying on you.”
As he turned to leave, he noticed Cai De Hai’s graying hair and added, “Uncle Cai, work is important, but so is your health. Auntie and Xiao Sheng are both depending upon you, so don’t work yourself into the ground.”
…
On the other side of the door—
Jiang Shao leaned against the wall outside, confusion appearing in his eyes.
So this was the secretive thing Qi Mu had needed to send him away and close the door to do?
Why was there any need to do something like this behind closed doors?
What was he afraid of others seeing?
Jiang Shao lowered his dark gaze to the tips of his shoes. His mood became inexplicably irritable and somewhat complicated.
If even this was an act…
Then it was almost convincing enough to pass for reality.
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