69. First argument

At 9:30 p.m., Cheng Boyan was reviewing the meeting minutes in his hotel room when there was a knock on the door.

The new secretary, Qian Yuyu, stood at the door with documents in hand: "President Cheng, these are the key points for tomorrow's negotiations. Please take a look."

Cheng Boyan suppressed his anger as he took the document. After glancing at it a few times, he immediately noticed the problem: "How was this cost analysis done? Is last year's data still usable? Have market fluctuations been taken into account?" He fired off a barrage of questions, turning what should have been a rigorous work attitude into an emotional outburst.

Qian Yuyu turned pale with fright: "I'm sorry, Mr. Cheng, I'll redo it right away."

"You can't even do the most basic data update right? Did the company hire you just to freeload?" Cheng Boyan slammed the file on the table. "Redo it! I want a decent report by tomorrow morning!"

When people lose control of their emotions, they are more likely to harm innocent people.

Qian Yuyu practically fled the room. Cheng Boyan leaned back on the sofa, rubbing his aching temples. He realized that taking his anger out on her was wrong, but his pent-up rage needed an outlet.

At 10 p.m., Qian Yuyu rubbed her sore eyes and checked the revised report one last time. Half an hour earlier, she had been severely criticized by Cheng Boyan for her oversight, and she was still feeling lingering fear.

She hesitated for a moment before sending the document to Qiao Lanyue, who was hospitalized, with a note: "Sister Lanyue, I'm so sorry to bother you so late. President Cheng is very dissatisfied with this report, and even after I revised it, I'm still not confident. Could you please take a look at it for me?"

Moreover, Qiao Lanyue's reply came quickly: "I haven't gone to sleep yet. President Cheng has always been kind and rarely gets angry. Perhaps he's been under too much pressure lately. I'll take a look at the documents. You don't need to blame yourself too much."

Qian Yuyu replied gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Lanyue. It's just that this is the first time I've seen President Cheng so angry, and I was really at a loss."

Twenty minutes later, Qiao Lanyue sent detailed suggestions for revision, with explanations for each point.

Finally, Qiao Lanyue added, "I've reviewed it carefully, and this report is now comprehensive enough. Chief Executive Ming should be satisfied with it. It's late, get some rest."

Looking at the text on the screen, Qian Yuyu suddenly understood why Secretary Qiao had been able to work by President Cheng's side for so many years. Even in the hospital ward, she was still able to provide calm to others in their panic.

Meanwhile, in her hospital room, Qiao Lanyue's phone vibrated.

"Xi Yi," she answered the phone.

Fang Xiyi's voice was filled with concern, "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm feeling a bit better," Qiao Lanyue replied softly, her gaze falling on the moonlight outside the window. "The doctor said I can try getting out of bed and walking around tomorrow." She paused, keenly sensing the fatigue in his voice, "Mr. Cheng, are you in a bad mood today?"

He demanded a suspension of all cooperative projects with the Shiming Group, including the polyolefin project that had already entered the trial production stage.

Qiao Lanyue's eyes widened slightly: "Why? Those projects are progressing smoothly and have a bright future. President Cheng is always very steady; he shouldn't make such an impulsive decision."

Fang Xiyi sighed, "I'm not entirely sure either. However, we ran into President Xi downstairs at the hospital today. He was accompanying Director Wen to her prenatal checkup." He lowered his voice, "At the time, President Xi's hand was around Director Wen's waist."

Qiao Lanyue understood instantly. She recalled Qian Yuyu's plea for help, and President Cheng's unusual loss of composure; everything connected. "I see..." she said softly, "Then he's probably jealous."

As one of Cheng Boyan's most capable assistants, Qiao Lanyue knew his character very well. That man, who was always calm and composed in the business world, had made such an uncharacteristic decision because of a single action.

Qiao Lanyue had been by his side for many years and had secretly loved him for just as long, always thinking he was indifferent to everyone, even showing little reaction to his wife's infidelity. But she later discovered that he was completely different after meeting Wen Xueyan.

Qiao Lanyue sensed that Wen Xueyan possessed two distinctly different qualities, much like a meticulously crafted ink painting of Jiangnan, combining the gentle beauty of misty rain with the refined elegance of fine brushstrokes. When she spoke at the technical conference, her composed and confident demeanor made even her simple business attire exceptionally captivating.

Love can sometimes make even the most rational person become emotional.

"Xi Yi," Qiao Lanyue suggested softly, "it's already quite late. Why don't you hold off on the notification for now and contact Shiming Group tomorrow? What if President Cheng calms down tonight and changes his mind?"

Fang Xiyi chuckled softly on the other end of the phone: "Okay, I'll do as you say." His voice became exceptionally gentle. "The important thing is that you get plenty of rest and recover quickly. I miss you very much."

*

That night, the study in the Xi family's old mansion was brightly lit. Old Madam Xi, wearing gold-rimmed reading glasses, swiped her finger across the tablet screen, looking at the trending news she had arranged: "Shiming Group welcomes its fourth-generation heir, with the nonagenarian madam personally attending the prenatal checkup to witness it."

"Madam, if we send this out, they might take some action." The assistant's tone was filled with worry.

Old Madam Xi slowly raised her head: "That illegitimate son has been secretly acquiring scattered shares for so long, just hoping that Mingyuan has no heir, so he can curry favor with Chairman Xi and seize power. Now, it's time for everyone to know that the rightful heir of the Xi family is right here."

She gazed out the window at the deep night, her voice growing cold: "I've endured all these years, not out of fear of them, but to wait for the perfect opportunity."

That evening, the news suddenly appeared on the local trending topics list.

In the carefully edited photo, Xi Mingyuan tenderly protects Wen Xueyan's waist, while Madam Xi stands lovingly beside them. Anyone who sees this would think they are a happy and harmonious family.

The next morning, Cheng Boyan woke up and checked his phone. The first thing he saw was this news, and he frowned.

The sight of Wen Xueyan standing next to Xi Mingyuan in the photo made his eyes darken.

He felt that the warmth and tenderness of Wen Xueyan in his arms could only belong to him, the only man.

He had been considering whether to rescind the decision that morning, but seeing the photo again only fueled his anger.

"Vice President Fang, has the notification of the termination of cooperation with Shiming Group been delivered?" he asked on the phone.

Fang Xiyi's voice carried the unique clarity of early morning: "President Cheng, considering it was late last night, I plan to notify them again when I get to work today. Are you sure you want to terminate this?"

"Yes. All termination procedures must be completed today."

After hanging up the phone, he got up and straightened his suit, and later went to the Seongju Chemical Plant to continue the negotiations. He remained as composed as ever in the mirror, but only he knew the hidden motives behind this decision.

At 10:00 a.m., the atmosphere in the conference room of the Shiming Group project department was somber.

"The Cheng Group has unilaterally terminated all cooperation, including projects that had already entered the trial operation phase," said Wang Yiming, the project director, adjusting his glasses. "According to preliminary estimates, the daily losses from the downtime on the polyolefin project alone amount to as much as 300,000 yuan."

A collective sigh filled the conference room.

Sitting in the corner, Engineer Li suddenly stood up. This veteran engineer, who had served the company for twenty years, now had anxiety written all over his face: "I'm forty-two this year, my child is in middle school, and I still have fifteen years left on my mortgage... I've been working on this project for over two years, and now it's just going to stop like this? Will we be laid off?"

A female engineer chimed in, "My husband just lost his job last month, and now the whole family depends on my salary..."

Just then, the conference room door was pushed open. Xi Mingyuan walked in: "What's going on?"

"President Xi," Wang Yiming quickly stood up, "Cheng's Group suddenly announced this morning that they are terminating all cooperative projects."

"What went wrong? A technical malfunction?"

"It shouldn't be a technical malfunction. The other party hasn't given any explanation, only demanding immediate execution."

Xi Mingyuan quickly regained his composure: "Everyone, please return to your offices. I will handle this personally."

Back in his office, Xi Mingyuan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought for a moment. Outside, the city bustled with activity, yet a sense of unease crept into his heart. He dialed Cheng Boyan's number.

"Mr. Cheng, this is Xi Mingyuan." His voice remained consistently calm. "Regarding the decision to terminate the cooperation, I would like to understand the reasons. Our project has been progressing smoothly, and this sudden halt will not only cause huge losses but also affect the long-term cooperative relationship between both parties."

Cheng Boyan's voice turned colder. "I have something to do here, I'll hang up now."

Meanwhile, in the workshop of Xingzhou Chemical Plant, Cheng Boyan knew how much loss this would cause, but when he saw the heartwarming photo on the trending topics and thought of Wen Xueyan's smiling face next to another man, the burning jealousy overcame all reason.

Perhaps even the most composed person will have a moment of impulsiveness when faced with love. However, the consequences of this impulsiveness often require many people to share the burden.

Inside Xi Mingyuan's office, Wen Xueyan was called to his desk to listen to his explanation.

"The Cheng Group unilaterally terminated all cooperative projects," Xi Mingyuan said, pushing a document in front of her, "including the polyolefin project that had already entered the trial operation phase."

Wen Xueyan took the document: "This is too sudden. The project has been progressing smoothly; President Cheng isn't the type to act so impulsively." Her eyes held a hint of confusion. "Have you contacted him personally?"

"We spoke on the phone a few minutes ago," Xi Mingyuan leaned back in his chair, "His attitude was very firm. He said he was busy and hung up immediately." He paused, his gaze falling on Wen Xueyan's face, "Perhaps...it's related to the chance encounter at the hospital entrance yesterday? And that news story my grandmother arranged this morning?"

What news? Wen Xueyan scrolled through her phone, then remembered Cheng Boyan's jealous phone call last night, and the messages she hadn't replied to in time because she was tired.

"Mr. Xi," she said carefully, "perhaps I could try contacting him? Maybe there's some misunderstanding that needs to be cleared up. Could you lend me your office for a moment? I have two clients and my assistant in there right now."

Xi Mingyuan nodded slightly and gestured for him to proceed.

Wen Xueyan said, "Could you please leave for a moment?"

Xi Mingyuan raised an eyebrow: "Okay." He turned and left, closing the office door behind him.

The moment the call connected, she heard the roar of machinery from the chemical plant coming from the other end.

Wen Xueyan asked, "Bo Yan, I heard you've suspended all collaborative projects with Shiming. Can you tell me why?"

Upon hearing Wen Xueyan's voice, Cheng Boyan quickly suppressed his anger and responded gently, "Xueyan, this decision was made after a comprehensive evaluation."

"What are the criteria for this assessment? The polyolefin project has already entered the trial production stage," Wen Xueyan said, her voice filled with confusion. "Many employees have poured years of their lives into this project. What will happen to those employees who rely on this project to support their families? It might even put our company at financial risk."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Cheng Boyan's voice was as cold as ice: "'Our company'? By what right do you interfere in the Cheng Group's decisions? Are you Mrs. Xi, or my girlfriend?"

"I'm here as the CTO," she tried to maintain a professional tone. "Aren't you always so composed and cautious? Didn't you come to my wedding? What happened?"

"What happened?" Cheng Boyan's anger was almost uncontrollable. "You should ask yourself. When you were with President Xi yesterday, why weren't you so concerned about the project?"

Wen Xueyan closed her eyes briefly. So that's why. Because Cheng Boyan was always so composed, Wen Xueyan assumed he would never be jealous. "Yesterday was a routine prenatal checkup, and Old Madam Xi was there too. You know perfectly well what I feel..."

Cheng Boyan interrupted her, directly voicing his long-suppressed words, "You say you're acting? Then I'd like to ask, how far are you going to go with this act? Or are you so immersed in the role that you can't bear to leave? I tolerated seeing another man with his hand on your waist. I tolerated you having an intimate meal together and others posting it on social media. I tolerated your affection trending on social media. But when I call you, you don't answer; when I text you, you don't reply. How do you think I should feel? I'm a human being, not a god!"

Wen Xueyan initially wanted to say that she was easily tired and sleepy during her pregnancy, but considering they were in the office and she wanted to resolve the issue quickly, she replied, "Bo Yan, this is a personal matter. As the head of the company, shouldn't you prioritize the company's normal operation? Suddenly terminating all cooperative projects—do you know how much loss this will cause to both parties? Won't your Cheng Group also suffer losses?"

"Xueyan, do you think I'd be so irrational as to make reckless business decisions based on personal emotions? Won't the board remove me from my position?"

His tone still carried a hint of coldness: "I've done a preliminary assessment. The polyolefin project is Shiming Group's core industry for the next three years, and the initial investment has already been substantial. Cheng's Group is large enough to afford the losses for now. If the projects continue to be suspended, suppliers will come looking for us, and Shiming's cash flow can only last for three months at most. At that time, Cheng's Group can take the opportunity to acquire them at a low price."

"Cheng Boyan, you've gone too far!" Wen Xueyan was shocked and angry.

Cheng Boyan's original intention was not to acquire Shiming Group, but somehow the conversation turned out this way. Hearing that she was angry, he wanted to make amends and quickly added, "Xueyan, I'll be back from my business trip tomorrow..."

Before he could finish speaking, he heard a dial tone; the other end of the line had already hung up.

Welcome all readers and fans to leave comments and vote! Thank you for your support.

Secretary Qiao is so kind!

Today was so short, haha, not enough!

Yes, she is very kind and wise.

I'll try to write more in the next chapter, haha. Thank you for your comment, it's so heartwarming.

It turns out today is a day off. Mr. Cheng was angry and frustrated for a whole day.

Thank you for your comment! I've been working overtime all day, and seeing this wonderful comment is so exciting! I'll continue updating tomorrow!

Haha, I hope you enjoy both work and life! Please update more often in your free time; I'm looking forward to it every day.

I'm so touched, thank you so much!