Chapter 58
"Huh?" Jack's eyes widened, then he quickly gulped down a mouthful of wine. "Contraception failure? Holy crap! 35 is the age to make mistakes! By sheer luck, you've actually responded to the national call. Now, not only does the government offer subsidies, but I heard from HR the other day that the company is also going to launch a reward program soon, with cash rewards for getting married and having a baby, especially for having a third child. These American capitalists really know how to read the political winds."
Despite the unbearable heat, and everyone wanting to order takeout rather than go out to eat, Cheng Shi still made a special appointment with Jack for lunch at that famous noodle shop where you could drink a lot of alcohol, so he could chat with him about his "new developments." The "new developments" Cheng Shi was referring to weren't with An Zheyuan, but rather with Huang Ruoyu. He knew very well that An Zheyuan's desire to "poach" him from within was still a secret, and especially, he couldn't let Jack, that drunkard, know.
When Jack heard about Cheng Shi's "new developments," he seemed quite startled, but only for a moment. He quickly regained his usual elegant demeanor, sipping his drink as he said, "Actually, it's not so bad. If you really leave, no one will be protecting me. And if you leave, Eddie will definitely take over. That kid is too ambitious; who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause. Only you can handle him; Lao Ban can't. Really, even if it's not for work, I'll really miss you. And... and to be honest, I think your plan to go to Dali is a bit... a bit... uh... a bit impulsive. I'm just saying, don't take it to heart."
Two hours later, Cheng Shi, who hadn't touched a drop of alcohol during lunch, was already standing in An Zheyuan's office on the top floor. After practicing with Jack all afternoon, he felt he now knew how to explain his "new decision" to An Zheyuan.
So, full of confidence, Cheng Shi started daydreaming as soon as he stepped into the elevator. He imagined that when he appeared on the mysterious top floor, An Zheyuan would stand up to welcome him and warmly shake his hand, saying some polite words, such as, "Frankie, I'm so happy to hear you're not leaving..."
As a result, after hearing Cheng Shi's words, An Zheyuan remained expressionless, making it difficult to fathom his thoughts. He simply said to Cheng Shi, "Sit down. Sigh, what's going on in your head? But it's also good; I'm personally very happy that you made this decision. Now, of course, I've told you..."
As he spoke, An Zheyuan closed his slightly swollen eyes and began to rub them with his hands.
This was the hottest day of the year. It was said that the outdoor temperature was conservatively 45 degrees Celsius, and some people said that the ground temperature was already 70 degrees Celsius. However, when Chengshi and Jack went out to eat at noon, Jack claimed that the outside temperature definitely exceeded 70 degrees Celsius. He kept complaining that the temperature was like the temperature of taking a sauna. Jack lamented that Beijing had lost its only label: dryness.
It was hot outside, and not cool inside either. All day long, people on the 15th floor kept going to the front desk to adjust the buttons on the wall-mounted central air conditioning, but the temperature never seemed to drop. Others kept calling the engineering department to complain that the central air conditioning was broken and demanding immediate repairs. Eventually, the head of engineering sent an email to all employees to prove that their personnel had checked the air conditioning and it wasn't broken. But nobody bought it; the HR inbox was flooded with complaints about engineering by the end of the afternoon. In short, no one in the entire Haoskai Head Office was in the mood to work today; everyone was irritable and wanted to start a fight.
It was precisely because everyone on the 15th floor was in a state of panic that Cheng Shi couldn't sit still any longer and decided to go to the top floor to chat with An Zheyuan and take the opportunity to enjoy the cool air with VP treatment.
Cheng Shi had hoped that An Zheyuan's private office on the top floor would be cooler. After all, it's generally believed that fewer people and less breathing would make it cooler. Moreover, the mysterious top floor was a paradise for all the employees of Haosikai Head Office. Everyone imagined that this private top floor must have a different temperature and humidity control system. After all, didn't An Zheyuan have a private elevator system?
As it turned out, the mysterious top floor was not a paradise at all. Although the private office on this large single-level floor was spacious and bright, it felt hotter than the 15th floor, probably because it was on the top floor, and it was also very sunny and dazzling—even drawing all the blinds tightly did not solve the problem.
To put it simply, An Zheyuan's office was practically a greenhouse suitable for growing tropical plants. Cheng Shi felt that even breathing became difficult as soon as she stepped out of the elevator on the top floor. And the beautiful secretary in the outer room of An Zheyuan's office now looked like a withered flower after being scorched by the sun, no longer possessing the allure she once had.
Actually, this place is more suitable for the frail old teacher to spend his remaining years in peace, which is exactly what Cheng Shi wants.
An Zheyuan, ravaged by the high temperature, had also become listless. He had no time for pleasantries with Cheng Shi, and showed no enthusiasm whatsoever.
Today, An Zheyuan was probably too hot, so he wore a cheap T-shirt with no discernible brand, looking like an ordinary salesman, completely lacking the aura of a big boss. Moreover, his large, imposing executive desk, like Cheng Shi's cramped blue cubicle, was piled high with messy documents, and there were three oversized computers on it, all radiating terrifying heat! The only thing that suggested An Zheyuan's status was probably the huge globe by the window. However, upon closer inspection, Cheng Shi noticed that the globe was not only faded from the sun but also covered with a thin layer of dust, indicating it was a neglected corner forgotten by the cleaning lady.
An Zheyuan continued to sit there rubbing his eyes. However, this series of actions did not mean that An Zheyuan had forgotten Cheng Shi. Cheng Shi understood this very well. In fact, everything was fine; it was just that no one could speak calmly in such a tropical greenhouse, in such extreme heat, let alone show any excitement. Moreover, Cheng Shi understood that he and An Zheyuan were discussing serious matters, which should be addressed with earnestness.
“That day at dinner in the Chairman’s Pavilion,” An Zheyuan rubbed his eyes, sighed, and continued, “I mentioned a project. It’s still in the early stages of preparation. As the plan gradually takes shape, I’ll call you up for meetings from time to time. At the same time, I suggest you continue working on that… that… what was it called again? It’s your little program. I’ll talk to the class minister and let him know that you’re also working for me at the same time. For now, that’s enough for him to know.”
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