Chapter 22: You come to the company to make money, not to do charity
"Dear Dr. Gu..."
After writing a line of words, she felt that the title "Dear" was inappropriate. Although foreigners generally used "Dear", it was too intimate to write it in Chinese. So she changed the letter paper and started writing the letter again.
"Dear Dr. Gu..."
The three words "Dear" still didn't seem right; they felt too formal and unfamiliar. Just as she was about to turn the page, a breeze blew through the golden bushes, brushing past her fingertips and turning the page. The salutation alone wasted two pages, so Li Wenjing simply wrote "Dr. Gu," leaving out any other salutation. Now the writing flowed smoothly.
"Doctor Gu,
Thank you for your gift. I love your flowers; you arranged them beautifully. And the chocolates too. It's been a while since I've received anything like this. It's just like the sweet memories we had back in school. I think you're a very thoughtful guy. Actually, it's been a while since I've met a guy I've really been attracted to. I enjoy spending time with you and your care for me; it warms my heart. For the past two months, I've been torn between our relationship: should I take the plunge? Or wait for you to confess? I've been torn between wondering whether you actually like me. These chaotic thoughts seem ridiculous now. But I still love you and have so many questions about you—about you and about myself. At the same time, I understand your concerns, and I can't imagine a future for us. So, I'm letting go of all this now. I have more important things to do. I want to be more independent and improve my work and life. I also want the best for you. Please take your medicine on time and take care of yourself.
——Wenjing
After writing the letter, she put it into the big red mailbox at the village intersection as a reply to him. Gu Weiyi's matter was put aside, but his father Gustav's matter had not yet been addressed.
As soon as Li Wenjing returned to the unit, before she entered the office, she just walked to the door when the director stuck his head out and waved to her.
"Wenjing, you're back! We won the bid, and the dean has been praising you the whole way. Come to the meeting quickly, I can't find you anywhere."
At the same time, the phone rang. It was Zhang Zhaochuan, asking where she was and urging her to hurry to a meeting to discuss a project with a French energy company. Li Wenjing said she had already arrived at the company. She looked up and saw Zhang Zhaochuan approaching with several other executives. He had completely changed his previous indifference and was full of praise for Li Wenjing, praising her for securing Gustav. Seeing Zhang Zhaochuan again, Li Wenjing felt a sense of awkwardness. He was her college senior, a colleague of two years, and the husband of her best friend. After all these years, Li Wenjing couldn't forget his cold demeanor, the misunderstanding about his relationship with Gustav, his gaze sifting through her like needles, misunderstanding her, and stinging her.
This so-called model man was no different from any other man, a feeling bordering on backstabbing. Li Wenjing vaguely sensed a change in their relationship when it came to money, but he acted as if nothing had happened, actively leading the leadership in praising Li Wenjing's abilities.
"Everyone is more capable than you, the master." said the dean with a smile.
Zhang Zhaochuan smiled and said, "I'm just young and impatient. In two years, it will be amazing."
Li Wenjing didn't laugh, just nodded along. She still hadn't figured out what was going on. She'd clearly agreed to fair treatment with Gustav, yet in the end, the project went to their company. After the meeting, she'd been sitting on a small stool in the back, but now she joined Zhang Zhaochuan at the table. While she was still trying to figure out what was going on with Gustav, Zhang Zhaochuan nudged her arm twice and said jokingly, "Wenjing, you're so modest! You scared us to death, and we thought it was going to be a waste of money. Now it's a big deal, and we're all owed a lot to you!"
"I didn't do anything. I told him to be fair."
"Oh, maybe he just likes this. The more you say you're fair and don't flatter him, the better impression he'll have of you."
“No, this project is everyone’s effort.”
The more she talked about this, the more curious others became about how Li Wenjing had persuaded Gustav. Not only her colleagues, but even the dean was asking. Li Wenjing simply shook her head and said nothing. They all just laughed, which made her feel very uncomfortable. It was true that there was nothing between her and Gustav, but when they asked her about it, she couldn't explain it, which only made her imagine their relationship.
But were her and Gustav truly innocent and innocent? Suddenly, the drunken conversation at the hotel flashed back to Li Wenjing's mind. Desire burned in her chest, her lips dry. A cup of tea quelled the urge. Perhaps, but that was just her own opinion. As for the current situation at work... Li Wenjing simply let them speculate. No matter what she said, an older man and a younger woman, with such a massive project behind them, always made for some intriguing speculation. She simply let it be. She didn't care. Perhaps it was even better for her. With someone so powerful and influential, no one dared to do anything to her.
The leader lit a cigarette and began to talk about today's arrangements. After just two words, he met Li Wenjing's gaze.
"Dean, I feel a little unwell today and feel dizzy. Can you please not smoke?"
"ah--"
The dean frowned at first, looking at the cigarette butt in his hand, then turned to Li Wenjing's face, forced a stiff smile, stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, and asked her kindly, "Why are you sick? Are you too tired from running the project?"
"I had malaria two months ago, and I haven't been feeling well lately. Also..." Li Wenjing stammered, "Director, my salary was low last month, and the projects I've been running lately are all charity projects like Dr. Gu's. They're exhausting, and I don't make much money."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Your company should have taken care of you if you were sick." He turned and instructed the director, "Old Liu, recalculate your payroll and give Xiao Li the difference."
"It's his duty. Our accountant just came and doesn't know much." The director said as he put out his cigarette.
Li Wenjing had tasted the sweetness of "borrowing the power of a tiger." She now understood how comfortable those with genuine connections felt: being looked after, being respected, and having their words carry weight. After this act of pretense, she felt an inexplicable pang of discomfort. The company had indeed won the bid for this project through its own merit; she had played no role at all.
Her boss and colleagues were still laughing at her. She was in a difficult position, so she had to straighten her back. She told herself—this was a multi-million dollar project, and the boss was taking the meat. She just wanted to get a little soup. If she hadn't pulled off this bravado, there would have been no way to get her salary back from the shrewd bosses and accountants at the company. She was right. This was the way she should have acted. She came to the company to make money, not to do charity work. She should earn as much as she could, and not a penny less than what she was owed.
This meeting was also about money. The director was assigning projects to the various institutes. He'd been doing it quickly before stopping at Li Wenjing to ask the director's opinion. The director said that, based on seniority, Engineer Zhang should be in charge of such a large project, but Li was also doing a great job, so he couldn't choose, so he let the director make the decision. The director said he knew his subordinates well and would let him make the decision. The director then called Li Wenjing and Zhang Zhaochuan to speak.
Now everyone in the room thinks that she has a good relationship with Gustav. Neither the director nor the dean wants to do anything that would offend people, so they simply let Zhang Zhaochuan and Li Wenjing discuss who will be the person in charge.
Before Li Wenjing could speak, Zhang Zhaochuan spoke first, "Well, Wenjing and I will discuss this after the meeting, and I'll report it to the leadership."
Li Wenjing found it jarring to hear him report. Why was he the one reporting? Was it a tacit admission that she was giving him the position? Li Wenjing simply ignored him and told the dean directly, "I want to be the person in charge. I'm confident I can do it well.
"Wenjing, you!" He was so shocked that his lips trembled. He stared at Li Wenjing's profile in disbelief. "You've never done such a big project before. I always led you in it before. We need to discuss this."
"Master, you have taught me well. I have become a successful apprentice." Li Wenjing said calmly, still not looking at him.
The awkward exchange at the meeting lingered even afterward. Afterward, Li Wenjing stayed for a brief meeting. When she returned to the office, Zhang Zhaochuan stared at her as she entered, his teacup tightly clenched in his hands. His colleagues, their usual cold demeanor gone, came to congratulate Li Wenjing. He stood up, pushed everyone aside, and said to Li Wenjing, "I want to talk to you, junior."
Li Wenjing didn't say anything at first, and began to clean up the table. She slowly put away the chocolates that Gu Weiyi had given her, put the acacia flowers in the vase, and added some water. Then she looked up and said, "I have something to tell you, Senior."
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