Chapter 23
“Your company is good.” Li Hui leaned back slightly, tapping her teacup casually with one hand, saying something that didn’t quite come to mind, “But the market changes every day. Before things settle down, anything is possible. You have to be prepared.”
"Sister Li, you have to help me." Qian Song's face turned pale, and he gripped Li Hui's hand tightly. "You know, I've invested a lot in this round of financing. If I can't get the investment this time..."
Qian Song was concerned about his image. Although he had taken money and resources from Li Hui in the past, he rarely mentioned his financial difficulties openly. Sometimes, he would even subtly showcase his success to emphasize his own strength.
Today is different. The immense financial pressure is suffocating him, and he can't hide it anymore.
Looking at Qian Song's anxious and frightened expression, Li Hui sighed inwardly, but smiled and said, "I've been helping you all along, haven't I? Song, don't worry, the difficulties will pass."
She patted Qian Song's hand reassuringly, "Take the money you just received and use it to pay the company's employees' salaries tomorrow. It's a critical time, and the company needs someone to hold the fort."
Qian Song shifted his position, sitting closer to Li Hui. "Sister, there's still the rent to pay, and the suppliers are pressing me hard. Could you please help me out again?"
Li Hui paused for a moment, then slowly withdrew her hand. "Songsong, my money didn't come from thin air. The economic climate is so bad right now, and I have so many people to support, you know that."
Qian Song grabbed Li Hui's hand and said, "Sister, please be kind to me. I know you can do it. 'Yunmi' has such a good international business this year, with annual revenue of several hundred million."
“That’s just how it looks on the surface.” Li Hui, who was in her fifties, had a somewhat charming expression and spoke slowly. “She knows the difficulties behind the scenes. Look at how much international taxes are rising now. I’m really worried about myself. I don’t even know if we can continue our international business.”
"Yes, definitely." Qian Song looked down at Li Hui with a gentle expression. "Sister Hui, you are so capable and have such a wide network of connections, you can definitely do it."
"You're actually saying such nonsense to fool me." Li Hui laughed at the flattery, then took out her phone from her bag and transferred 200,000 yuan to Qian Song. "That's all I have. I can't come up with any more."
After saying that, she said in a tone of both admiration and pride, "My daughter has grown up and gained enough experience in the company. This year, 'Yunmi' has been able to achieve steady performance growth, thanks to her good vision. She laid out her plans for TikTok several years ago."
Her skin was fair and radiant, but the wrinkles were so deep that even thick makeup couldn't hide them.
Qian Song's eyes flickered. He was extremely displeased, feeling that Li Hui just didn't want to give him money and was making up all sorts of excuses to say these things. But he flattered her gently, "Sister Li, you are so beautiful and energetic. Everyone who sees you will say that you are in your prime."
No woman dislikes being complimented on her beauty.
Moreover, Li Hui, who refused to accept her age and was narcissistic, was so flattered by Qian Song that she took out her phone and transferred 200,000 yuan to him.
Five hundred thousand can at least solve the immediate crisis.
Qian Song's smile immediately became much more genuine. "Sister Li, I knew it, you love me the most."
"Hmph, if I don't cherish you, who will?" Li Hui slightly raised her eyes, a hint of flirtatiousness in them. "Your little girlfriend?"
"Don't mention her." Qian Song's expression changed suddenly, and he said impatiently, "Sister Li, if it weren't for my parents wanting me to be with her, I really wouldn't want to see her. I'm under so much pressure at work right now, and instead of being understanding, she just keeps causing me trouble every day. I'm so annoyed by her. The house is always a mess, so noisy, I can't even get a good night's sleep."
"How could that be?" Li Hui asked in surprise. "Isn't she a rather quiet girl?"
At her age, she's seen through everything. The only reason she's still entangled with Qian Song is because Qian Song is quite compatible with her in some ways.
She knows her own situation; she won't get married again. But she still needs to take care of her health and is willing to spend some money on it, without interfering with the boy's normal life.
Although Qian Song is not young anymore, he can no longer be called a boy.
But he's never been married, has he? He's got the looks, the physique, and everything else is perfect. They've been entangled for over a decade, and she's gotten used to his touch.
So a couple of years ago, when he told her that his parents were getting old, they had their eye on a girl who was suitable for him in all aspects of her job, she didn't stop him. She even saw a picture of the girl; she was pretty and looked very gentle. She thought she was a good girl.
They went with Qian Song.
But she was a woman after all. Allowing Qian Song to have a girlfriend was one thing, but seeing how good Qian Song was to other women made her jealous.
However, she also knew that it wasn't the girl's fault.
So sometimes, when she saw Qian Song complaining about that girl, she would offer some words of advice. After all, he was someone she had been with, and she still hoped he would be well.
However, Qian Song, too, has really been doing worse and worse these past few years.
A perfectly good company, even with a little bit of ability, shouldn't have ended up like this.
well--
"On the surface, it seems alright, but in reality, it's just so-so." A slight disdain appeared on Qian Song's face, but he quickly softened his voice, "Sigh, if she treated me half as well as you, Sister Li, I wouldn't be so upset."
"..."
What was so good about her to Qian Song?
Was the money they gave a fair amount?
Li Hui paused for a moment, then, using the act of picking up her teacup, avoided Qian Song's embrace. At the same time, she said something fair: "Xu is a good girl. She doesn't want anything and is willing to live a down-to-earth life with you. You should cherish her."
Qian Song laughed heartily, "Sister, I'll do whatever you say. Whatever kind of life you want me to live, I'll live that kind of life."
Li Hui curled her lips and casually said, "No way, Songsong, what do you mean by saying you should live the life I tell you to live? I'm not your mother, how can I arrange your life?"
"Sister, you're my own sister." Qian Song leaned close to Li Hui in a clingy manner. "It's still early, how about we go somewhere else for a drink?"
Li Hui looked down at Qian Song and said, "I forgot to tell you, next week's investor is a woman, single, who likes men with an artistic temperament. Do you want to meet her?"
"I'll see you, Sister Li. You said I could see you, so I will."
Qian Song looked docile, and Li Hui patted his thigh with a smile.
...
Holy crap!
Holy crap!
Holy crap! ...
Yuan Ergeng's hands were shaking as he filmed the video.
In the footage, Qian Song skillfully puts the woman in his arms and says, "Sister Li, how about we leave?"
The woman, dressed in a designer suit and wearing huge gemstone earrings, placed her hand on Qian Song's hand with utmost naturalness.
This is an elderly woman who appears to have considerable financial resources, yet she has a very close relationship with Qian Song.
Thinking about their relationship...
Yuan Ergeng's heart pounded.
...
Bishui Mountain Villa.
"Wow, Qian Song is so old, yet he still goes for such fancy things." Yuan Ergeng threw off his shoes and jumped excitedly to Gao Yinxi's side, holding a bottle of mineral water in his hand, which he was opening. "I didn't expect him to like the 'old baby' type."
Gao Yinxi frowned as she looked at the clearly inappropriate physical contact between Qian Song and that woman on her phone screen, her face full of anger. "Why is it her again?"
"Baby, do you know this old baby?" Yuan Ergeng's face was flushed, and he was extremely excited.
He never expected that a rare opportunity to meet a client at the Grand Hyatt would lead him to uncover the gossip about his wife's best friend's boyfriend.
“I don’t know her, but I saw this woman with Qian Song when I went to a bar with Yan Shu last time. At that time…” Gao Yinxi looked at the footage that Yuan Ergeng had secretly taken on his phone over and over again with a gloomy expression. She then told Yuan Ergeng in detail about seeing the two of them at the beach last time. “I also felt that their relationship was very strange that day, but after we went to the hotel, I found that the woman was not with Qian Song.”
"Wow!" Yuan Ergeng whistled excitedly. "Looks like Qian Song was lucky that time."
“Yeah, he was lucky that day,” Gao Yinxi said through gritted teeth. “But, if you walk the dark road too often, you’re bound to run into a ghost.”
Haha, my wife looks so cute when she's angry.
However, as long as you don't get angry with him, it's fine.
Yuan Er was overjoyed, proudly resting his head on Gao Yinxi's shoulder. "Wife, wife, you know, when Qian Song and that old baby came in, I was sitting far away from them. When I saw Qian Song come in, I was even thinking of whether I should go and say hello. But soon I saw him being all lovey-dovey with that old woman, and I immediately saw with my sharp eyes that something was off about their relationship. So I changed seats to a private room closer to them, but with a screen and green plants to keep the room private. That way, I could leave evidence for your best friend without making a sound! Wife, don't you think your husband is clever?"
"Clever, very clever." Gao Yinxi raised her hand and patted Yuan Ergeng's head, but her hand was covered in water stains. She couldn't help but complain, "You're sweating so much, you stink. Go take a shower."
"We'll go in a bit." With such a juicy juicy story to tell, Yuan Ergeng couldn't stay calm. He didn't want to take a shower anymore, so he reached out and pulled Gao Yinxi into his arms, nuzzling her. "Wife, do you think Qian Song and this woman might have the kind of relationship we're thinking of?"
"I don't know either." Gao Yinxi sighed. Judging from the video, Qian Song and that woman's relationship was definitely not ordinary. However, it wasn't like Chi An catching a woman in bed. "I wonder how Wenwen and Qian Song's relationship is lately."
"Who cares?" Yuan Er raised a thick eyebrow, revealing a sharp edge. "Just send the video to Xu Zhuwen. As for the rest, let's see what Xu Zhuwen does."
"Sigh..." Gao Yinxi angrily threw her phone onto the other sofa, her face full of distress. "If only it were that simple. Wenwen isn't like An'an, with her pure heart and straightforward thoughts. She... sigh..."
"What's so difficult about that?" Yuan Ergeng's phoenix eyes shifted slightly, revealing a hint of indifference. "As a friend, you should do what you should do. As for the rest, that's none of your business."
...
Xu Zhuwen placed the supermarket shopping bags in the entryway and rubbed her aching wrists.
It's the weekend today.
She got up early in the morning, did yoga, and then went to the supermarket to buy a lot of fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats. She planned to make a soup and some delicious dishes for lunch, so that she could relax and ease the tension between herself and Qian Song.
Last night, Qian Song didn't get home until almost midnight. His eyes were bloodshot, and he had a faint smell of perfume and alcohol on him.
When asked, he said he was drinking with clients.
After changing my shoes, I was about to put the things I bought into the kitchen when suddenly, I heard a few noises coming from the study.
"Song, you're up?" She pushed open the study door and saw Qian Song hurriedly closing the computer screen.
"Where did you go so early in the morning? I didn't see you when I got up." Qian Song got up from his computer.
"I bought a lot of fresh vegetables at the supermarket. Why don't you cook with me later?" Xu Zhuwen smiled and moved closer to Qian Song.
Qian Song covered the computer screen in front of him and started nagging, "If you want to eat, cook for yourself. I won't be home for lunch."
Seeing Qian Song's actions, Xu Zhuwen's smile gradually disappeared. "What, are you going out?"
"Something came up at the company, I have to go out right away." Qian Song quickly packed his things.
"It's the weekend today, are you still going to work overtime?" Xu Zhuwen noticed an unfamiliar coral-colored lipstick stain on his shirt collar, which was completely different from her usual mauve shade. Her expression changed drastically. "Qian Song, why is there a lipstick stain on your shirt collar?"
Qian Song's heart skipped a beat, but anger flashed across his face. "Why are you making such a fuss? Last night, I was at the club with some investors. Everyone called for prostitutes, so I couldn't very well not. It was all just for fun. We just drank and played dice. Nothing happened."
"What do you mean 'nothing happened'?" Xu Zhuwen's eyes widened in anger. "They called her 'Miss,' and you still say nothing happened? What kind of investor did you meet? What kind of shady place did you go to?"
"Xu Zhuwen, can you please not speak so rudely?"
Qian Song regretted coming back last night. He looked at Xu Zhuwen, who was furious, with a gloomy expression, and thought she was really unreasonable.
If he had listened to Sister Li, he could still be comfortably sleeping in a five-star hotel right now.
"I'm being rude?!" Xu Zhuwen was so angry her head was about to explode. "You dare to do it but you don't dare let me say it? What kind of good place is it if there are prostitutes? People who really want to do business don't go to these kinds of drinking parties every day, especially such disgusting ones. Legitimate business deals are closed one by one, following the proper procedures. I don't think you're there to do any legitimate business. You've probably just met a few swindlers and are just eating and drinking with them every day, indulging in wishful thinking."
"You!" Qian Song roared, his voice stern but his voice weak. "Xu Zhuwen, you should spend more time reading books instead of just being a smart aleck and causing trouble all day long."
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