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Song Ning sent Cheng Yanchu a message, inviting him to dinner that evening, but Cheng Yanchu did not reply.
During the afternoon class, Song Ning was still worried about where she would get a gun if she couldn't contact Cheng Yanchu.
It won't work if she contacts Shen Yuxiu's friends; as long as she contacts them, Shen Yuxiu will definitely find out.
Shen Jiayi won't help either; she definitely won't.
Shen Xiaoyue sometimes carries a gun when he goes on missions, but that would harm him and wouldn't work.
Just as Song Ning was troubled, Cheng Yanchu replied to her.
A simple "time and place".
Song Ning had booked a restaurant in advance and sent the reservation to him.
While there's no guarantee that Cheng Yanchu's friend can find a solution, we can only give it a try. At worst, we'll have to find a way through the shooting range.
Song Ning had booked a private Japanese restaurant and reserved a highly private room.
She arrived at the restaurant 5 minutes early; Cheng Yanchu arrived almost right on time.
Cheng Yanchu took off his shoes and sat on the futon, getting straight to the point: "You probably didn't just come to see me for a meal, did you?"
Song Ning poured him a glass of pomelo wine: "Can't we just catch up?"
“Others might be, but you aren’t.” Cheng Yanchu didn’t touch the cup in front of her, as if the cup was poisoned.
Drink it or don't, it's up to you.
Song Ning poured herself a glass and took a sip.
The aroma is refreshingly fruity and the fragrance of rice is mellow and pure.
Cheng Yanchu was speechless. She had never seen someone drink first when inviting someone to dinner, yet he fell for it.
Song Ning wasn't entirely clueless; after all, he needed someone's help.
She pushed the restaurant's signature foie gras in front of Cheng Yanchu, knowing he was a germaphobe, and even prepared disposable gloves for him: "If you won't drink the toast, then try this restaurant's signature dish."
"You should tell me what you need to do first, I'm afraid I won't be able to digest it after eating." Cheng Yanchu didn't answer.
Song Ning could only take back the disposable gloves and put them beside her: "How have things been between you and Xu Qing lately?"
"What's wrong? Are you having relationship problems with him? Are you trying to have your cake and eat it too, or are you looking for a backup plan?" Cheng Yanchu took a sip of wine.
Song Ning had always felt that this person had shed his "good student" facade and was now even more venomous.
Song Ning suppressed her anger: "I was just showing concern as a friend."
"Song Ning, this hesitant manner is unlike you. Just say what you have to say." Cheng Yanchu put down his wine glass and refused to touch anything else.
Since he had already said that, Song Ning was too lazy to pretend anymore: "I want to get to know your hacker friend."
"Let me introduce you."
"So readily agreed?" Song Ning asked incredulously.
“You’ve already put yourself through so much hardship, it wouldn’t be right not to help. Besides, it’s just introducing someone, it’s not a difficult thing.”
After a three-second silence, Song Ning sincerely said, "Thank you."
Cheng Yanchu was also taken aback: "You seem to have changed after just one winter break."
Song Ning smiled, as before: "Now are you willing to eat the meal I'm treating you to?"
Why are you looking for him?
Cheng Yanchu reached out for disposable gloves, and Song Ning picked them up with one hand and handed them to him, much more casually than before.
Cheng Yanchu laughed in exasperation: "I've never seen someone so quick to discard someone after using them. I haven't even introduced you to them yet."
"I'm sorry, shall I pour you a drink as an apology?"
It was supposed to be an apology, but the way she said it made me inexplicably uncomfortable.
"No need, I can't stand your hypocritical attitude just now." Cheng Yanchu put on gloves, took a piece of bread, and dipped it in foie gras.
Song Ning didn't mind his sarcastic tone and continued to ask, "What kind of person is your friend?"
"Which aspect are you referring to?" Cheng Yanchu scrutinized Song Ning.
Song Ning used the act of drinking to mask his facial emotions: "Character, for example: if you pay a lot of money, you'll do anything."
“He needs money, but he won’t do everything. You’ll have to ask him to find out.” Cheng Yanchu took off his gloves, took out his phone, and handed Song Ning a business card. “Ask him yourself.”
Song Ning didn't rush to add, "I want to ask in person."
Cheng Yanchu paused for two seconds before saying, "He's in Southern Jiangsu. I'm free this Saturday and can go back with you. But if it's inconvenient for you, then forget it."
"There's nothing inconvenient about it."
Song Ning knew exactly what Cheng Yanchu meant by "inconvenience," but the fact that he was able to introduce her so smoothly was already much better than she had imagined.
As for whether Cheng Yanchu will find out her purpose from the hacker, whether his hacker friend is reliable, and whether Shen Yuxiu will mind if the two of them go to Nansu alone, these are all questions for later.
Besides, she was going back home this week anyway.
"Why don't you look for him? He shouldn't be so bad as to not even be able to find a hacker." Cheng Yanchu seemed nonchalant, but his voice couldn't hide his mockery.
Song Ning didn't give a direct answer. She took a bite of the sashimi, swallowed it, and then slowly asked, "Cheng Yanchu, is it because you like me that you care about him so much, or is it because you're unwilling to lose to him?"
"I knew this food wouldn't be digestible." Cheng Yanchu poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp.
Song Ning poured him another cup, wisely choosing not to provoke him further.
The atmosphere here was fairly pleasant, but on the other side it was suffocating.
In a conference room with a long table in a standalone office building, Jiang Xisheng, sitting at the head of the table, leaned back in his chair with his head tilted back, his legs crossed to one side, his eyes closed, and his fingers tapping lightly on the imported walnut wood tabletop. He exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.
The conference room door opened, and Shen Yuxiu, who had just finished a phone call, walked in and sat down in the first empty seat on the left, his face as cold as ice.
The room was eerily quiet, filled with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
A dozen or so men sat at the conference table, backs straight, eyes fixed ahead. Not one dared to breathe loudly, all hoping time would pass quickly so the meeting could end soon.
Jiang Xisheng opened his eyes, his voice clear and sharp: "Which group were you following yesterday?"
Shao Zhixiang, sitting in the first seat to Jiang Xisheng's right, replied, "It's Group B3."
Jiang Xisheng's sharp eyes turned to the second man on his left: "Where is your team leader?"
The man raised his chest and said in a loud voice, "President Jiang, the team leader is personally leading the team to meet with the people today."
"He's just a team leader, why would he go and supervise him himself?" Jiang Xisheng turned to Shao Zhixiang, his tone playful. "So, are you going to become the team leader and help him manage Team B3?"
Shao Zhixiang tensed his facial muscles: "I'm sorry, President Jiang. When I get back, I will strengthen management and training, and what happened last night will not happen again."
"Then you should be glad that the other party left you a chance." Jiang Xisheng sneered. "You are a former special forces soldier, so you should know very well that if what was sent last night was not a blood-stained knife but a small bomb, the client would not have been so lucky to have a second chance."
Shao Zhixiang pursed his lips and glanced at Shen Yuxiu directly opposite him. Seeing that Shen Yuxiu did not express his opinion, Shao Zhixiang felt even more uneasy.
"Why didn't you report it last night?" Jiang Xisheng asked.
Shao Zhixiang had no words to express his predicament. Last night, one person's phone was not answered, and another was busy. His brothers still had to chase and rescue people, so they couldn't keep making phone calls.
Shao Zhixiang swallowed his bitterness: "They reported it to me, but I didn't convey it in time."
Jiang Xisheng knew the reason, of course. He glanced at the crowd, who were filled with guilt, resentment, or indignation: "I know that the client refused to let you protect them closely this time, making the mission quite difficult. But is it true that the other party escaped right under your noses last night?"
"Yes. We accept the penalty," Shao Zhixiang said.
Jiang Xisheng's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of sarcasm: "As for the punishment, the HR manager will handle it according to company regulations. I don't care how it's done."
Shao Zhixiang knew this was a warning to him to do a good job in management, so he kept a straight face and didn't say anything.
Seeing that he had conveyed his message, Jiang Xisheng continued, "The main purpose of this meeting today is not to assign blame, but to encourage your two groups to be more attentive. According to information from Group A2, Fu Cong is not acting alone. Some of you met those people last night, so you should know their identities. If you feel you can't defeat them, you can apply to change tasks, and this task will be taken over by another group."
Jiang Xisheng made it sound so easy, but applying for a change of task would be tantamount to admitting his incompetence, which would affect his KPI assessment and could even lead to him being demoted to Group F and doing ordinary security work.
Putting aside their pride, the salary, benefits, and difficulty of the tasks are not on the same level, so not many people would be willing.
“Our group isn’t changing,” one of the men said.
Upon hearing that the task might be changed, the man retorted, "President Jiang, our team leader said no! He said he hates people who abuse their power for personal gain the most, and he's not Chen Biao if he doesn't skin those people alive."
Whenever the man spoke, Shao Zhixiang felt an urge to shove his mouth to the ground.
Fortunately, Jiang Xisheng didn't dwell on the topic. He simply said coldly, "Have your team leader report to Manager Shao when he gets back," and let Shao Zhixiang off the hook, signaling him to begin his report.
Shao Zhixiang explained in detail the work plan and specific implementation scheme for the next step, and each group then reported on the specific implementation status.
After finishing his report, Jiang Xisheng sat up straight, his fingers clasped together on the table: "There's one thing I need to remind everyone: you can take off your clothes, but you can't let your pride get the better of you. Since neither of your groups is willing to switch, then do your job well. If you can't do it well, say so early so that we can bring in more capable people. I won't hold it against you. But if you make another mistake, you'll either have to switch groups or resign. Is that alright?"
The man mumbled something in his local dialect, then shouted, "No problem."
“We’re fine with it too,” the other man said.
Jiang Xisheng looked at Shao Zhixiang: "As for the two who were injured last night, the company will cover all medical expenses and, as usual, provide corresponding nutritional subsidies. Let them rest well, recover fully, and come back. Their salaries will remain the same during this period."
Shao Zhixiang: "I know."
Jiang Xisheng pointed his chin toward the door.
Shao Zhixiang stood up: "Let's disperse. Those who need to change shifts, go change shifts. Those who need to rest, go back and rest."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone left the meeting room.
Jiang Xisheng leaned back in his chair, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt: "I thought I could play the good cop today, but it turns out I'm the one doing all the talking. What's wrong with you? You're not usually so easygoing when it comes to her, so why haven't you said a word today?"
Shen Yuxiu took out his phone and checked it. Seeing no response, he put it on the table: "I'm here today as the employer. I need a more effective protection plan. Now that we have one, there's no need to make things difficult for them. Besides, changing teams now isn't a good thing. They've been with her for a while and have a certain understanding of her. Changing teams at the last minute will require time to adjust, which could easily give the other side an opening."
"You're surprisingly calm. I thought you were going to lose your temper."
Shen Yuxiu's voice was cold and unreadable: "The more critical the moment, the calmer you need to be."
"That's all well and good, but I wonder who it was this morning who looked like they wanted to kill someone after seeing the bloody knife in the cardboard box."
There was a knock on the conference room door.
Jiang Xisheng asked, "What is it?"
The secretary pushed open the door and came in: "President Jiang, Attorney Zhang is here."
Jiang Xisheng looked at his secretary: "What brings Attorney Zhang here?"
“I sent them,” Shen Yuxiu said.
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