Chapter 40
As a new broom sweeping clean, Liang Shih implemented sweeping reforms at Fanning's Hong Kong branch, making the company's systems more stringent, such as the regular meeting system and training system. Basically, anything that could be standardized was adjusted.
The employees in various departments, as well as the sales clerks, were all complaining, but Liang Shi didn't seem to care. Unlike the mainland, Hong Kong had higher housing prices and living costs, and wages were also much higher. However, overall, the wages and benefits here were much better than on the mainland, so she wasn't worried about anyone quitting. But the quality of the employees needed improvement. Since Chen Tianyun had tacitly approved of her actions, she would naturally play the role of the "good cop," since she wouldn't be in Hong Kong for long anyway.
There was a lot of gossip about Liang Shi, the new vice president, but Liang Shi pretended not to hear it. This was a sign of her hard work; there was bound to be a lot of criticism on the road to success, and if she cared too much about it, she would be held back. So far, it seemed that her strict rules were indeed effective in keeping people in line; at least under her watchful eye, the employees were quite well-behaved.
During her two-week stay in Hong Kong, one afternoon she convened a meeting with the heads of various departments, mainly to discuss the upcoming Labor Day. Promotional plans from major shopping malls had been sent to her, and the marketing department had already shown her some of their plans, but Liang Shi was not satisfied.
“Different shopping malls have different positioning. If the promotional prices are the same, I think we can discuss different solutions that are more beneficial to customers with each mall. Whether it’s starting with points or gifts, I hope to come up with something new.”
In Hong Kong companies, it's practically impossible to get a foothold without speaking Cantonese. Leung Siu did his homework and found that almost all of his employees speak fluent English. Currently, Leung Siu speaks English most of the time at the company.
The intense work pressure left her feeling breathless. The meeting lasted for more than two hours, and she needed to give them some time to get things done. Liang returned to her office and made herself a cup of black coffee.
Unlike the mainland, the atmosphere here is more oppressive, perhaps due to the environment. Land in Hong Kong is expensive, and the company's rent is also quite high. Her office isn't very big, but it has a floor-to-ceiling window with towering buildings outside. Liang Shi suddenly wondered what it would be like in Singapore.
She walked to the door, where her secretary was diligently taking notes. Seeing her come out, the secretary stood up and asked, "Are you going out? Do you need a car?"
Liang is not used to driving on the right side of the road. So far, whenever he goes out, he usually takes the company car or a taxi.
"Please make me another cup of coffee, thank you."
It was Friday. She glanced at the time and handed her secretary a task: "Next Monday morning, I'd like to see a report on the May Day activities in mainland China and Singapore. Lily, is there a problem?"
Liang Shi had inquired about Lily, who was a senior secretary who had previously worked at the Singapore branch. Due to personal reasons, she returned to Hong Kong after her divorce. She was quite capable, and coincidentally, Chen Tianyun had just taken office and personally interviewed her to join the company.
As soon as Liang Shi arrived, Lily was assigned to be her secretary. She knew that although Chen Tianyun said he would fully support her, he didn't completely trust her.
Lily pushed up her glasses: "Mr. Liang, don't worry, I'll put the report on your desk first thing next Monday morning."
Liang Shi smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work. I'll treat you to a meal sometime."
The following weekend was Liang Shi's first weekend without work since arriving in Hong Kong. The hotel had no shortage of wine, and she drank all the wines in the wine cabinet.
Here, she has no friends. In Shanghai, she could at least meet up with Zhou Yun for shopping and meals. Never mind, I'll take a nap.
She had only been dozing off for a short while when Zhou Meng found her. The girl seemed like a completely different person after two weeks apart.
Zhou Meng twirled in front of her, her skirt twirling in the air as well: "You know what, I think I'm growing to like skirts more and more. Lately, I've been going to the mall with my friend every day, and when I see a skirt, it's like a cat seeing a can of meat. I've been spending a lot of money lately."
Liang Shi handed her a bottle of mineral water: "This style suits you well. Did you come to see me because you need something?"
Zhou Meng nodded: "After taking your advice, I often appear in front of Leo wearing skirts. Compared to before, he seems less fierce towards me. He used to always say I was crazy, but the day before yesterday he even ate an egg tart I bought for him. Before, he would never eat anything I bought. So, I came here today to treat you to a meal, as a way of thanking you for your guidance, which helped me avoid some detours on the road to love!"
Liang Shi wasn't surprised. A girl like Zhou Meng was innocent and beautiful. A man like Chen Tianyun had never encountered a woman like her before, so he might be gradually attracted to her.
My thoughts are wandering. What about Li Junqian in Singapore? Will he also encounter a girl like Zhou Meng who is relentlessly pursuing him?
Seeing that she didn't reply, Zhou Meng walked over and waved her hand in front of her: "Sister Suzie, what are you thinking about? There's a nice Japanese restaurant, let's go for an omakase!"
Liang Shi snapped out of his daze, smiled at her, and said, "Okay, then wait for me while I change my clothes."
While waiting for Liang Shi, Zhou Meng checked her bank account balance. She had been spending recklessly lately and was now strapped for cash. She was worried that she would make a fool of herself by treating everyone to dinner later. Luckily, she had checked her balance.
Li Junqian was in a meeting with the company's senior executives when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out, glanced at it, and then turned it off. The other end kept calling relentlessly, so it seemed like something really important had happened.
During the break in the meeting, Li Junqian walked to the connecting corridor to return Zhou Meng's call.
"Hey bro, you finally answered the phone!"
"What is it? I'm very busy right now."
Zhou Meng chuckled: "Um, I'd like to treat a beautiful lady to dinner. I've been buying too many clothes lately and I'm short on cash. Could you lend me some money?"
Li Junqian had a headache: "Your mom gives you so much living expenses every month, plus what I give you usually, Zhou Meng, you should have a lot of pocket money, right? Besides, I heard you've made quite a bit of money doing personal shopping services?"
Zhou Meng was surprised that her cousin knew so much about her!
"Who told you I'm a personal shopper? I haven't told anyone that!"
Li Junqian rubbed his temples: "You and Fang Lei's schemes have been so loud in all the family group chats, it's hard for me not to hear them. Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Zhou Meng's purchasing agent business is simple. Fang Lei is Zhou Meng's cousin; they are the same age. One studies in Hong Kong, and the other in Shenzhen. These two places are so close and convenient, it would be hard not to do purchasing agent work. However, both of them spend money quite lavishly, and since it's not really their profession, the purchasing agent fees aren't available every day.
"Really, I'm fine! Don't worry, I haven't touched drugs, gambling, or prostitution! You know, we girls all love to look good, and lately I've been buying clothes and bags, and now I'm broke! Bro, you're the best, please help me out!"
"Have you found a boyfriend?"
She's really shrewd; how could she guess that? But she guessed wrong; she hasn't won him over yet!
"I'm nineteen years old, an adult, so of course I should be in a relationship! But I haven't won anyone over yet. You know, a woman dresses up for the man she loves, and I've recently discovered that I look good in dresses, but Miu Miu and Dior are so expensive, they'd cost me way too much."
Li Junqian understood that girls of this age love beauty and are willing to risk everything for love; the pursuit of hormones is something he couldn't stop.
"So, you were just kidding me about inviting some beautiful lady to dinner? If you're thinking of inviting a man you like to dinner, then I suggest you find someone else. At the very least, it's not your place as a girl to invite a man to dinner."
Zhou Meng was exasperated. He usually gave her money without hesitation when she asked, but today he was like a madman, asking her endless questions!
"I'm not lying to you! You know this beautiful lady. If it weren't for her advice, my progress in pursuing the person I like would still be stuck in the same place. Bro, hurry up, I'm with this beautiful lady. I just promised to treat her to Japanese food. Do you think I would bother you if I weren't broke!"
Li Junqian frowned. Zhou Meng said he knew him?
"who?"
Zhou Meng bluntly stated, "Your former subordinate, Suzie, who is now the vice president at Leo's company."
Li Junqian looked out the window. The sky was blue with white clouds, and the weather was clear. He had just been criticizing the heads of various departments in the conference room, but now he was in a great mood.
Zhou Meng was confused when the phone was hung up on. Then she received a transfer of just over six figures on WeChat!
She accepted the payment instantly and left a message: I love your cousin so much! Come to Hong Kong sometime and I'll treat you to dim sum! I'll use the money from my personal shopping service to treat you!
Li Junqian: Eat more tonight.
When Liang Shi came out of the bedroom, he saw Zhou Meng holding her phone and laughing: "What's going on? Did Leo accept your confession?"
Zhou Meng held her phone up to Liang Shi: "I asked my brother for some money for food, and he transferred 100,000 yuan to me! He told me to eat more tonight! I declare that Li Junqian is the best brother in the world!"
Liang Shi's smile froze instantly. Zhou Meng, however, was still basking in her joy: "Sister Suzie, my cousin used to be your boss, right? Was he a really quiet person?"
Zhou Meng brought up Li Junqian on her own initiative, her intentions unclear: "He's alright, but he's definitely not easy to get close to."
Speaking of her cousin, Zhou Meng shook her head: "He's rich and handsome, and attracts a lot of women, but he's too dull. He's expressionless all the time. I really don't know why those women like him! Let's go eat Japanese food and chat while we eat!"
At the Japanese restaurant, Zhou Meng chatted amiably, offering her tea instead of wine: "Sister Suzie, we really hit it off. To be honest, I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."
Liang Shi raised his sake cup and clinked it with hers. It wasn't surprising that the little girl didn't recognize him; after all, she was only eleven or twelve years old at the time. At Li Guangting's funeral, both of them had cried until their eyes were swollen. Who would remember whom then?
"If you were a guy, I would think your flirting skills are really outdated."
Zhou Meng chuckled: "By the way, the day I picked you up at the airport, you said you had someone you liked. You weren't lying to me, were you? A woman as beautiful as you, how could there be a man you couldn't win over?"
It wasn't that she couldn't catch him; rather, she pushed him away herself.
"Don't pry into adults' affairs. Tell me about yourself, how are things going with Leo lately?"
The young girl was actually quite naive, and Liang Shi quickly changed the subject.
"Just like I told you before, things are lukewarm, no breakthroughs. I went to your company a few days ago, wanting to bring you and Leo some egg tarts, but you went out that afternoon. That same day, I overheard Leo at the door saying he was asking his assistant to go to Harbour City to buy a necklace, a Van Cleef & Arpels one at that. Who do you think he's going to give it to? His family? Or has he found a new girlfriend?"
The period of having a crush on someone is incredibly torturous. You'll spend countless brain cells trying to answer one childish question after another. It's exhausting and agonizing.
Liang Shi smiled and said, "Perhaps he wanted to give it to you?"
Zhou Meng shook her head dejectedly: "It's definitely impossible, my birthday was a long time ago. To tell you the truth, I once rode in his car and was looking for a napkin, and then I found one in the glove compartment... that one."
Liang Shi didn't understand at first: "Huh?"
Zhou Meng blushed, somewhat embarrassed: "It's that...that thing men and women need when they're doing intimate things..."
Men like Chen Tianyun dedicate most of their energy to work, and feel it's too early to settle down; they might just find a casual fling to satisfy their needs. Unfortunately for our innocent Zhou Meng, her first foray into romance has landed her a seasoned player.
Liang Shi could only try to comfort him: "I can understand, after all, he's over thirty. Didn't you say he had a girlfriend before? Maybe he was the one who stayed with you from that time?"
Zhou Meng became increasingly distraught, even the most delicious sashimi tasted bland: "When I first pursued him, I never thought about any of this. The closer I got to him, the more I realized his world was different from mine. He's older, more experienced, and he always treats me like a child. I also thought that when I wasn't looking, he was like my male classmates, maybe simply playing games, reading, or working out. But I underestimated it. Maybe at his age, he really needs a woman's company. I mean a woman, someone he can share common interests with, someone who can help him through his troubles... Suzie, do you think I should just give up like this?"
Liang Shi was pondering. She had never encountered Zhou Meng's situation, but she always felt a sense of similarity. Back then, although she and Li Junqian were only two years apart, their life experiences were different. Liang Shi always felt that Li Junqian had a very impressive image; he knew everything, could do everything, and could do everything to the best of his ability. So much so that it wasn't surprising that he had a girlfriend, but it still made her unconsciously sad.
"This is your own choice, and I don't want to interfere with your decision. But, pretty girl, you're only nineteen. Don't worry too much or be pessimistic. There are four billion men in the world; don't limit your thinking. Cheer up and enjoy the food! Otherwise, your hungry stomach and your wallet will suffer!"
Zhou Meng always felt like she was tied to a stake with a rope, very passive. The first thing she did every day when she opened her eyes was to see if Chen Tianyun had replied to her daily greetings. She would be happy all day if she sent a long message and received only a word or two in reply from him.
After hearing Liang Shi's words, Zhou Meng felt as if she had been hit on the head with a hammer, as if she had been enlightened. Recently, her major course teachers have been calling her frequently to ask about her studies and why her grades have suddenly dropped. Some classmates and alumni who contacted her at the beginning of the semester asked her why she was no longer participating in campus club activities.
"Suzie, you're right. I'm only nineteen, and nineteen-year-olds should do what nineteen-year-olds do! How could I not have an appetite for such delicious sashimi? Come on, cheers!"
After a satisfying meal, Zhou Meng received a message from a male student in her department who was organizing a murder mystery game that night and asked if she wanted to go. Of course, she had to go!
The two waited for a taxi together.
"Suzie, you've had sake, are you sure you can get back to the hotel by yourself?"
The sake wasn't very strong, and she was still quite lucid: "I'm fine."
The car hadn't arrived yet, and Zhou Meng leaned against a telephone pole: "Oh right, I forgot to ask, are you and my brother close? This afternoon I told him I was treating you, and he immediately transferred 100,000 yuan to me. Tsk tsk tsk, the more I think about it, the more suspicious it seems. He even told me to eat more tonight. I originally thought he wouldn't support me this time, but I didn't expect him to be so generous."
Liang Shi was taken aback, not expecting this young girl to have thought of this. The cool evening breeze blew away the sweat on her body: "I was just a department director before, but this time when I came to Hong Kong, I was promoted to vice president. Your cousin must be happy, he deserves some credit for the employee's promotion. Maybe he wanted to celebrate for me? After all, your cousin had already gone to Singapore before I left."
Zhou Meng stuck out her tongue: "Oh, I see. To be honest, I just shipped you and my brother as a couple. You two seem like a good match."
Liang Shi was taken aback again: "Where does it fit?"
Zhou Meng raised her hand and gestured up and down in front of her: "The height is just right, she's pretty, has great taste in clothes, and is very capable. But honestly, I really can't imagine what kind of woman my brother would like."
The car arrived, and Liang Shi opened the car door: "Zoe, save your breath, you still have to play a murder mystery game later!"
Zhou Meng got into the car and said goodbye to her.
Liang Shi returned to the hotel, exhausted, or rather, mentally exhausted. Just as he was about to take off his clothes and shower, the phone rang.
An unexpected yet reasonable phone call.
She took a deep breath: "Hello?"
The person on the other end of the phone seemed amused by her loud, almost angry tone: "Have you finished eating and gone back?"
Liang Shi looked around, feeling as if he were being monitored: "How did you know?"
"Zhou Meng sent me a message after she arrived at school. I think you might have gone back too."
Liang Shi lay down on the bed, his eyes fixed on the overhead light, which was a little too bright. He turned over and asked, "What is it?"
"Zhou Meng said you gave her advice on how to pursue men?"
It turns out he was concerned about his cousin: "Is it not allowed?"
“She is very naive and young. She is alone in a foreign country and it is her first time falling in love. I am afraid that she will get hurt.”
Indeed, Liang Shi had wanted Zhou Meng to leave in time tonight, but she didn't.
“This is not something I can stop; it’s her decision. If she gives up, she may regret it for the rest of her life. If she encounters setbacks and gets hurt, she will learn to be strong.”
After she finished speaking, there was no sound from the other end of the phone. Five seconds later, she asked, "Who is that man?"
Liang Shi certainly wouldn't say it, since he should be very familiar with Chen Tianyun.
"Don't tell me it's Leo."
Tsk, Liang Shi thought, Li Junqian must have some special abilities, how come he can guess so accurately every time!
This time, Liang fell silent.
Li Junqian knew that her silence meant he was right. Chen Tianyun was capable, but his family background was intimidating. This wasn't a place Zhou Mengmeng could easily tread.
“Leo is special. I’ve been quite busy lately. If possible, could you keep an eye on Zhou Meng for me? I’ll talk to Leo about it myself.”
Liang Shi hadn't expected Li Junqian to speak in such a serious tone. Leo was unusual? In what way? The key was, how could she, an outsider, keep an eye on him?
However, I still had to say something polite: "I'll see how it goes. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up? I'm very tired."
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, he said, "I heard you want to know about the May Day activities in Singapore and mainland China?"
Liang Shi sat up abruptly. She had instructed Lily about this yesterday, and he already knew about it today? Couldn't her secretary have been a little more discreet?
"We're all from the same company, shouldn't we share information? Is it all for the benefit of headquarters?"
Li Junqian chuckled: "I've already had my secretary fax my proposal over. As for Frankl's side, I've already told him it's a secret."
Liang Shi frowned: "So mysterious? Is President Li still trying to fleece the mainland while he's in Singapore?"
"It's a secret, but also a perk. You'll find out eventually. Rest if you're tired. Goodnight, sir."
The call started without addressing her directly, immediately questioning her about his sister's situation, acting like a good older brother. Then it turned to work-related matters, showing that the CEO was someone you couldn't afford to offend.
But in that final moment, she knew that they were equals, a man and a woman.
When people are tired and lonely, they often feel that any decisions they made in the past were too easy and hasty. Do they regret it?
A little, but she knew this feeling would subside after a nice, relaxing shower. So, she didn't say goodnight and hung up the phone directly.
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