Chapter 36: Recorder

In the two years since returning home, Xia Cheng and Xun Sheng have chatted only a few times. Before the other party could reply, Han Wenya had already walked to her side.

Xia Cheng immediately covered the phone.

Han Wenya put a document on Xia Cheng's desk. Seeing her so flustered, she leaned on the dividing bar with her arms folded over her chest.

"Boy friend?"

"No..." Xia Cheng turned off the lit phone screen. "I don't have a boyfriend yet."

"Have you ever been in love?"

"No."

"Is there anyone you like?"

What did Xun Sheng say to Han Wenya? Did he start to pry into her privacy?

Xia Cheng didn't know how to answer. She had to stay consistent with Xun Sheng, but Xun Sheng... She lowered her head and glanced at her phone. Xun Sheng had finally replied! Xia Cheng looked closely and her right eyelid twitched.

A short message box, just two words.

"you guess."

Xia Cheng's expression remained unchanged as she put the phone down with a thud.

"Sister Wenya, this seems to be my personal privacy."

"Indeed." Han Wenya patted her shoulder. "But in our line of work, it's best to stay single. Oh, by the way, there's a party tomorrow night. Take a look at the information and come with me tomorrow night."

After Han Wenya finished speaking, she seemed to suddenly remember something, and raised her eyelids, revealing her dark pupils.

"Remember to dress nicely."

"knew."

Xia Cheng took the document and placed it on the table. She flipped through the pages before pulling out her phone, repeatedly pondering how to reply to Xun Sheng.

Xun Sheng’s profile picture is of the sea, with a dolphin vaguely visible in it, curled up. It looks mysterious and quiet, which does not match the words “guess” at all!

What on earth is he doing? Is he telling a joke?

But isn’t he a domineering president?

*

The phone vibrated, Xun Sheng turned on the screen, and saw a message from Xia Cheng, whose avatar was a cartoon orange.

"What did you guys talk about?" The person on the other end added a puzzled kitten emoticon.

They talked a lot, but Xun Sheng didn't think it was any very important information, and he guessed that it was related to the board meeting in the morning.

He drummed his knuckles on the table for a moment, then switched to the phone screen.

He slowly typed the words "Guess."

The other party did not respond.

He was about to put his phone down when Xia Cheng sent him another emoticon.

The expression of an orange cat holding a gun.

It seemed as if she was going to shoot him.

Xun Sheng laughed twice, but found it irritating, so he quickly lowered his mouth, covered his mouth with one hand, rested his elbows on the table, and said nothing.

*

The next afternoon, after get off work, Han Wenya drove her red BMW and specially picked up Xia Cheng in the basement to go to the drinking party.

On the way, Xia Cheng took out a bag of toast from her tote bag.

"Sister Wenya, do you want to fill your stomach?"

"Quite smart." Han Wenya did not refuse. While waiting for the traffic light, she took the bread, swallowed it in big mouthfuls, and turned her head to look at Xia Cheng's dress with some dissatisfaction.

Xia Cheng did not dress up nicely as Han Wenya instructed. She wore a simple black sleeveless dress, tied her hair into a low ponytail, and changed into a pair of lower 5cm high heels.

"Are you here for the funeral?"

Han Wenya blurted out.

He grabbed her collar and looked her over, then tapped her lips.

"Not even wearing lipstick is nothing. I asked you to dress up so that it would be easier to negotiate with those stinky men. Men are all about judging people by their abilities. If you have any, then you should make good use of your age and external advantages. People without backgrounds should learn to exploit themselves. This is the first lesson I teach you."

"I'm sorry, Sister Wenya. I was in the hospital last month and my injuries haven't healed yet. I might look a little haggard. I'll put on my lipstick now."

Xia Cheng took out the air cushion and used the small mirror that came with it to touch up her lipstick, making her look much more energetic.

Han Wenya finally got what she wanted.

"Have you read all the information I gave you?"

"I've seen them all."

"Director Tao is a creditor of the company. He's been the company's largest supplier of building materials in recent years. We're currently short of funds and can't pay him for now. We need to talk it over tonight and postpone the original date. As long as we can get through these two months and the company recovers, there's nothing to worry about."

Xia Cheng nodded, her palms sweating. She lowered her head and tied the toast bag tightly. A small piece of hard black plastic was exposed in the untouched toast.

The drinking party was held in a private room of a star-rated hotel. Xia Cheng sat in the room for a while. Han Wenya received a call and took her to the door to meet someone.

Today's drinking party included Mr. Tao from the building materials company, President Wang, and they also brought a manager named Zhou. Xia Cheng had never heard of this person's name, so she secretly memorized it.

Xia Cheng looked at the people in front of her. Mr. Tao, a worker, was tall and thin with dark skin. He was obviously familiar with Han Wenya, but this nouveau riche was also very arrogant. As soon as he entered the box, he crossed his legs and spat out melon seeds.

President Wang, wearing a suit and a pair of gold-framed glasses, speaks politely and is the most thoughtful person.

Manager Zhou, who was obviously much more tactful, had been trying to find out more. He was also the first to notice Xia Cheng and was the first to extend his hand and greet her.

"Wenya, you brought a new person and didn't even introduce him."

As Xia Cheng bent down to shake hands with him, Han Wenya smiled.

"I forgot to mention this, this is our CEO Xun's new secretary. I brought her here specially tonight so she can learn more."

Manager Zhou looked at Han Wenya and pointed at Xia Cheng.

"Then you have to learn from Wen Ya. Wen Ya was a man of great drinking capacity. Even Mr. Xun was drunk."

Xia Cheng keenly got the useless news. She put her bag closer to Han Wenya and asked everyone to sit down.

The three men sat on one side, while Xia Cheng and Han Wenya sat together.

Several people began to talk about what happened in the company some time ago. It was no secret that Xun Sheng's misjudgment led to the decline of the company's performance, and the board of directors forced him to step down. Everyone in the company was discussing how long President Xun could stay in his position.

Xia Cheng listened in silence.

Under the table, Han Wenya touched her calf and tapped her phone.

Xia Cheng opened her phone and the latest message that appeared was a message that Han Wenya had sent her at some point in time.

Xia Cheng immediately stood up, greeted a few people, and deliberately did not bring his cell phone.

Han Wenya picked up her cell phone and handed it over.

"With it."

"Okay." Xia Cheng picked up her phone and walked out of the box. She first went to get the wine that Han Wenya had left at the counter. She stayed in the bathroom for a while before estimating the time to go out.

The bathroom was clean and smelled rich of perfume. Xia Cheng had no mind to touch up her makeup. She was waiting for Han Wenya to finish speaking. Han Wenya had deliberately sent her away, wasn't it just to time her conversation with the group of bosses?

Xia Cheng didn't take her phone with her, but Han Wenya was very concerned about this and even asked her to bring it with her. In fact, as soon as she entered the private room, Xia Cheng noticed that there were no cameras at all, and the privacy was excellent.

So she deliberately put down her bag, and the black plastic thing clamped by the bread maker was the newly bought voice recorder.

Xia Cheng took the phone away and settled the bill. Of course, he had to get it reimbursed.

She washed her hands without drying the water droplets on them.

Xia Cheng left the bathroom holding a bottle of red wine. Crystal clear water droplets dripped down the edge of the bottle onto her calves. Xia Cheng lowered her head to wipe it with paper, and while she was distracted, she bumped into someone head-on.

Xia Cheng lost her balance and took a few steps back, holding onto the wall. She raised her head and saw the man's white shirt with a pleasant smell of detergent.