The factory director's surname was Qi. Although he was in his fifties, he was tall and straight, with a clear mind and an extraordinary manner of speaking.
Qin Xiaoyu and he got along very well, and the waiters were already serving dishes in a steady stream.
"Is that Director Qi?" someone greeted him at the door. Director Qi turned around, saw him, and quickly stood up.
"Director Feng, it's a pleasure to meet you. When did you arrive?" Factory Director Qi extended his hand proactively, indicating that the man was someone of high status.
"A few friends came to visit for a few days and are going back to Shanghai tomorrow." Director Feng glanced into the room, his gaze lingering briefly on Qin Xiaoyu.
For some reason, Qin Xiaoyu inexplicably disliked this person, so she avoided eye contact with him and deliberately turned her head to chat with Sister Cui.
"This is Director Qin from Riyue Garments." Seeing Director Feng's persistence, Director Qi had no choice but to introduce him.
"Hello." Qin Xiaoyu couldn't pretend to be dead any longer, so she had to give a perfunctory reply.
"I've long admired the name of Riyue Garments. I didn't expect Director Qin to be so young," Director Feng said with a smile, holding Qin Xiaoyu's hand and refusing to let go.
Qin Xiaoyu didn't care whether he liked it or not, and with a forceful shake, she broke free.
The door across the hall opened, and a lazy voice came through, "Brother Feng, why aren't you back yet?"
"Xiao Ye, this is my friend. Come and meet her." When Director Feng mentioned Xiao Ye's name, Qin Xiaoyu's body trembled. Could it be her?!
A graceful figure emerged, and Qin Xiaoye looked quite different from when they last met.
Her face was heavily made up, and she no longer had her original aloof appearance. Her eyes, like a seductive charm, darted over Director Qi.
Finally, he lazily landed on Qin Xiaoyu, and then, as if electrocuted, his whole body froze.
"I'm going to the restroom." Qin Xiaoye ran away as if fleeing.
"Director Feng, this young lady looks unfamiliar," Factory Director Qi whispered with a smile in Director Feng's ear.
It seems they all know about it; Director Feng is quite proud of his philandering.
"Zhang Dahai gave it to me, I'll play with it for now."
Qin Xiaoyu's worldview was shattered. Zhang Dahai gave Qin Xiaoye to another man?
She actually complied? Is there really such an absurd thing in this world?
"Little Fish, you don't look well," Ye Qiu asked in a low voice, knowing full well what was going on.
"It's nothing," Qin Xiaoyu said with a straight face as she sat back down.
Factory Director Qi then realized his lapse in composure and quickly sat back down at the table, regaining his usual calm and collected demeanor. Life is a stage, and these are seasoned veterans, able to switch roles with ease.
Qin Xiaoyu glanced at the neighbor across the hall, and Qin Xiaoye didn't dare to come back.
Even so, she felt a tightness in her chest and had no appetite. Without realizing it, she also became indifferent to Factory Director Qi.
The dishes were piled high with food, but they were still pushed aside.
"Little Fish, are you tired? Let's go back and rest early," Ye Qiu said, trying to smooth things over. Factory Director Qi quickly backed down.
However, on the way back, Factory Director Qi insisted on getting into Qin Xiaoyu's car. Ye Qiu was worried and followed Qin Xiaoyu closely.
“Little sister, this isn’t a dinner table or a business meeting. You can call me uncle now, given our age difference. I know you’re in a bad mood today, and that’s my fault for not being a good host. I have a few words to say: men in business often have to play along with the rules. But I have a shrew at home, and I’m not like Director Feng.”
Hearing his explanation, Qin Xiaoyu felt uneasy.
He didn't need to say these things. Even if Qin Xiaoyu was unhappy, it shouldn't affect their business negotiations. It's because she's too fussy and acts like a spoiled child.
In the business world, everyone keeps their emotions hidden, yet she still acts like a little girl, clearly spoiled.
"Director Qi, I understand. It's just that there are some things I can't say more about." Qin Xiaoyu bit her lip and couldn't help but sigh.
Ye Qiu knew Qin Xiaoye and had heard some of what happened in Shanghai. Today, she was also feeling down. She held Qin Xiaoyu's hand tightly in the car, wanting to share her burden.
"Director Qi, it really has nothing to do with you..." She wanted to explain for Qin Xiaoyu, but then her phone rang. It was Director Qi's cell phone.
He answered the phone, and his tone changed immediately, "This, this, what can I do? Call the police? That won't do, no one can take responsibility if we don't call the police..."
He started speaking in dialect, a Suzhou dialect that was difficult to understand. Qin Xiaoyu was completely confused, while Ye Qiu's expression grew increasingly grim, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on Qin Xiaoyu's hand.
"Sister Qiu, what's wrong?" Qin Xiaoyu asked, puzzled.
"Xiao Ye might be in trouble." Ye Qiu's lips trembled.
"What's up?"
"He fell from the building, but we don't know the specifics yet," Ye Qiu said in a low voice.
Factory Director Qi has already told the driver to stop the car. It seems that Director Feng has been pestering him to help clean up the mess.
"The driver will take you back. Bald Qiang and his gang's car is right behind you, don't worry. I have urgent business to attend to," Factory Director Qi explained.
"Wait a minute." Qin Xiaoyu called out to him with a heavy heart.
"What's the matter, Director Qin?" Director Qi was a shrewd old fox and could tell that Qin Xiaoyu had something important to discuss.
"I want to know what happened after we left the restaurant."
"This..." Director Qi shut his mouth.
"The one who fell from the building was my half-sister."
With just one sentence from Qin Xiaoyu, Director Qi understood everything. He sat back in the passenger seat and told the driver to head to the hospital.
Qin Xiaoye waited until Qin Xiaoyu left before returning to the banquet.
Director Feng wasn't the only one at the table; several of his friends were there. He only brought three women with him. Qin Xiaoye returned late, which displeased Director Feng. With some people egging her on, he made her drink with each of these women.
Qin Xiaoye had just cried and felt uncomfortable, but she didn't dare to disobey, so she could only continue the ceremony from the beginning.
After walking about half a circle, a man grabbed her arm.
"Old Feng, I gave you my girl last time. I want this one, is that alright?"
Qin Xiaoye disgustedly shook off his hand.
She was a little dazed, not understanding why she had ended up in such a situation, especially after suddenly facing Qin Xiaoyu and having a comparison with her.
Originally, the two sisters weren't that far apart in age. In fact, for a time they were almost neck and neck.
But she fell into the dust all the way down, and she didn't know how to stop her.
When I met Qin Xiaoyu at the hospital, she was stubborn, but in reality, her mother's death had deeply shocked her. She woke up from nightmares every night, knowing how far her mother wanted her to go down this path, but she didn't want to.
She wanted to find an honest man, bury the past, and start anew. But it was easier said than done. Now, her standards were higher; she couldn't possibly be interested in an honest man.
Xiao Ye's father also kept quiet for a while, telling the Chinese people that life and death are major events. Respect for the deceased is paramount, so he dared not make too much of a fuss.
The father and daughter began to make plans about where to continue living.
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