Chapter 44 The bath towel fell off!
Gu Xu spoke of his seriously ill father, and through the misty steam, Qin Qiao saw a faint smile curving Gu Xu's lips: "...I hope Chairman Chen will consider our 'Huan Neng Yu' and give us an opportunity to cooperate."
Huanengyu is one of the top 100 companies in China, with businesses covering a variety of fields and investment as its core. Its subsidiary, Huanengyu Investment Bank, ranked among the top ten private equity investment banks in China last year with revenue of 132 billion yuan.
Investment banks, seemingly mysterious and unfathomable, are essentially "financial intermediaries" that mobilize vast resources. For example, Gu Xu is the head of the intermediary, and Chen Jiashu is his target client. Whether Chen Jiashu wants to expand or engage in mergers and acquisitions, whether the former lacks funds or the latter wants to spend money, they can provide him with the best solutions.
The new "new energy" project that Gu Xu just mentioned is an invitation for deep capital cooperation with Chen Jiashu. As far as she knows, Chen Jiashu has completed three mergers and acquisitions in cooperation with "Shengxi," so Gu Xu is trying to poach him.
As the successor to the company, Gu Xu desperately needed a landmark victory to prove his capabilities. There was no better way to establish authority than by snatching away someone else's core clients.
Chen Jiashu slowly finished chewing the beef slices, then raised his eyelids and said gently:
"To be honest, our core focus right now is entirely on the next generation of smart interconnected home appliances. This is our 'home turf' that we must first conquer..."
After a moment of reflection, Qin Qiao intertwined her fingers and rested them under her chin, her gaze sweeping over the two faces as she listened intently.
"Of course, Qiao Shu has always been very interested in excellent projects and forward-looking plans. Professor Gu, why don't you have your team send me a detailed investment plan? I will have the investment department give it priority in evaluation."
Chen Jiashu grasped the wine glass beside him, stood up, and gently swirled the red wine inside.
“Professor Gu, I have received your personal offer of assistance. This appreciation is more valuable to me than a business plan. I look forward to your team’s plans. I respect you.”
Gu Xu picked up his teacup and then stood up. Chen Jiashu's overly respectful gesture made him chuckle and shake his head: "Chairman Chen, thank you for your kindness. I'm truly sorry that I drove here today, so I'll offer you tea instead of wine."
He reached out and gently touched the wine glass in Chen Jiashu's hand. The glasses clinked softly, producing a crisp sound. The two exchanged a smile and each drank their wine.
*
The bright moonlight illuminated the falling snow. Chen Jiashu sat in the car waiting for her, while Qin Qiao and Gu Xu walked to a darker spot in the distance.
Upon learning of her suspension, Gu Xu pointed out two feasible paths for her: "With your qualifications, why not just resign and work as a strategic consultant for a few companies? It's easy and flexible... If you prefer a more stable environment, I can also recommend you for an assistant professor position at the School of Journalism at Lanzhou University..."
Gu Xu has been taking care of her for five or six years and is still in charge of her now, and a warm feeling wells up in her heart.
Qin Qiao smiled slightly: "I just think that since changes have occurred... we might as well go along with it and see. The two directions you mentioned are very good, and I will consider them as important options for the future."
That makes a lot of sense. Gu Xu nodded in agreement, said, "Let's go back," and the two of them turned around and walked back along the same path through the fresh snow without saying anything more.
After leaving here, the van drove for a while and then stopped on the riverside highway.
Chen Jiashu got out of the car first and opened an umbrella. Qin Qiao immediately crawled under the umbrella and raised her right hand to half-grab his arm.
This makes walking easier than before, and you won't stumble and fall anymore.
The lights on both banks were dazzling, and their complete reflections were mirrored in the river. As the water rippled, a cargo ship sailed upstream, and the reflections of the lights on the river were stirred into thousands of colorful fireflies. Even after the huge ship slowly passed by, the water surface remained restless for a long time.
"Four steps down."
Her gentle voice reached his ears like a ray of warmth in the freezing cold; it seeped into his heart through his left ear.
Chen Jiashu walked down the steps steadily, no longer hesitant and stumbling as he had been six months ago.
The two stood in front of the railing. Chen Jiashu tilted the umbrella slightly over Qin Qiao's head, and then they both looked across the river. For a long time, neither of them said a word.
Under the same umbrella, our body heat mingled with the faint scent of alcohol, quietly intertwining like a small, silent flame.
Chen Jiashu took a breath and turned to look at her: "...I can cooperate with you if you have more time."
A snowflake was carried in by a gentle breeze and landed on her neck, melting into a water droplet. She trembled slightly, then decisively withdrew her hand, letting it hang by her side, her fingertips curling slightly.
This was her way of subtly telling him that it was hopeless. Although he felt a moment of emptiness, Chen Jiashu still managed a half-smile and a silent laugh.
It was Chen Jiashu's idea to come to the riverbank to see the night view, saying it was to help digestion after dinner. The snow on the ground was already above ankle-deep, making walking difficult.
Eight or nine years ago, when they first came to Beijing, they also visited this place. It was summer then, and children were chasing and playing around them, their laughter filling the air.
Chen Jiashu cupped her face in his hands, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, his smile incredibly gentle.
The curtain wall lights of the building across the street were alternating between pink and white. When the pink light illuminated their faces, he lowered his head and bit her lips.
Noticing that all eyes were on them, Qin Qiao couldn't help but chuckle, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
Blaming her for being distracted, Chen Jiashu cupped the back of her head with his hand and deepened the kiss.
Suddenly, a weight settled on her shoulder, and Qin Qiao abruptly pulled herself out of her reverie.
She was wearing a black coat, and she instinctively clutched the collar. The material was smooth and soft, and his body heat was still inside.
The overcoat that Chen Jiashu was wearing, which reached his calves, was draped over her shoulders. The hem was covered in snow, making her look like a child who had secretly put on an adult's clothes, which was quite comical.
Just as Qin Qiao was about to pull the bottle away and return it to him, long, slender fingers gripped her shoulder, and a clear, low voice drifted into her ear: "I'm not cold because I've been drinking..."
Is it true or false?
Qin Qiao glanced at him sideways. The light was dim, and the man's pupils were unfathomably black, though there were two faint blushes on his cheeks. She remembered that he had only drunk one glass of wine. Although Chen Jiashu's alcohol tolerance was not as high as Zhang Shuang's, it was still acceptable; he wouldn't get drunk after just one glass.
Looking at him, Qin Qiao's lips parted slightly: "I misunderstood you about the equity issue, I'm sorry." These words had been swirling in her mind for a long time, and now that she had said them, she finally felt much better.
Chen Jiashu turned halfway around, lowered his eyelids, and the deep blackness hidden by his eyelashes finally rippled, like a drop of light color splashed into thick ink.
Qin Qiao, who had something else to say, spoke up first: "Also, thank you... for the timely transfer of shares, otherwise even ten mouths couldn't explain it."
Her apology and gratitude were so sincere that she must have been slightly bent over at that moment, her neck gleaming with a porcelain-white light.
The way it bowed its head must have looked just like a guilty swan.
Unable to bear seeing her like this, Chen Jiashu took half a step forward. The snow piled up on the top of the umbrella had a slight weight on it, and his arm trembled, causing the umbrella handle to tilt to one side. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and grabbed it to straighten it.
The man's Adam's apple bobbed twice with difficulty, and he said, "I saw the message you sent the next day."
That week, he was not only being treated for glaucoma, but also undergoing "eye-preservation" treatment for his left eye. Fortunately, thanks to the doctors' efforts, the result was good.
Chen Jiashu smiled and said, "Although this eye is already ruined, the original is still the best."
Qin Qiao felt as if her internal organs were being twisted together. Her eyes were as deep as ever. She raised her hand, not caring that her coat had slipped off her shoulder.
The moment her fingertips touched his brow bone, a sharp, tearing pain shot through her heart. She instinctively pulled her hand away, but Chen Jiashu grabbed her wrist in that instant.
The hand slid to her fingertips, drawing her to touch his eyes.
I traced circles on his soft eyelids with my fingertips, clearly sensing the complete eyeball and feeling the round pupil inside.
The man's tone was deep and magnetic: "It really is...can you feel it?"
There was a distinct hint of coaxing in the last syllable.
He was always like this, always putting her first no matter how important the matter was. Qin Qiao felt a lump in her throat, and closed her eyes without being able to bear it, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
With a churning, unending bitterness swirling within them, the two sat in the car in tacit silence the entire way.
They parted ways at the door. Qin Qiao entered first, but instead of going inside, she held her breath and peered through the peephole.
Outside the door, Chen Jiashu didn't leave immediately. He stood quietly for a few seconds before turning around, searching the door with his finger to find the sensor area, then swiping his card. With a soft "beep," his figure disappeared behind the door.
Drinking alcohol makes one prone to drowsiness. Chen Jiashu experienced a halo effect, which was amplified by his poor eyesight, but fortunately he was still able to take care of himself.
After a quick rinse, he changed into a hotel bathrobe, leaned against the wall with one hand, and carried a laundry basket in the other as he walked out.
Chen Jiashu opened the door, leaned out slightly, and placed the laundry basket against the wall. The corridor was very quiet. He didn't immediately retreat back into the room but remained where he was, looking straight ahead at the door opposite.
This glaucoma attack further damaged his already precarious vision, leaving him with only central vision – a situation best described as "seeing only a part of the whole picture."
He didn't dare tell Qin Qiao any of this. Although the outcome was inevitable and she would find out sooner or later, he didn't want to cause her any unnecessary trouble at this stage.
Let's talk to her slowly after this period has passed.
Hearing the door close, Qin Qiao turned out of the bathroom and quietly walked to the door. She squinted one eye and saw the dirty laundry basket leaning against the wall through the round hole.
That voice kept echoing in my mind.
Footsteps approached.
A hotel staff member came into her view and bent down to take it away.
The corridor returned to peace. Qin Qiao opened her door, unsure of what she was doing there. Coming to her senses, she found herself standing in the middle of the corridor.
With a click, the door locked, and Qin Qiao turned to see that it was tightly shut.
She pushed the door twice, but no miracle happened.
Qin Qiao was only wrapped in a white hotel bath towel. The towel was wrapped around her chest one and a half times, revealing her not-so-proud bust line and barely covering the bottom of her legs.
There was no heating in the corridor, and the cold air crept up her bare legs, making her shiver.
Just then, the cheerful laughter of several men suddenly came from inside the elevator.
Qin Qiao was so frightened that she ran to the opposite door without thinking and banged on the door.
*
Qin Qiao chose "social death" over "social death in front of her ex-husband".
Chen Jiashu was like someone waiting behind the door; he knocked a second time, and the door opened.
Her panicked expression was reflected in the man's dark eyes, but he couldn't see her current situation clearly; his expression was slightly bewildered.
Qin Qiao was about to explain to Chen Jiashu when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the three men emerge from the elevator, arms around each other, their laughter filling the corridor.
Her heart leaped into her throat, and there was no time to lose! Ignoring everything else, she rushed into the house, bumping into Chen Jiashu's left arm in the process.
"Bang!" Qin Qiao pushed the door shut with her backhand. Then she turned to the side, looked up, and met Chen Jiashu's even more bewildered expression.
Their fingertips curled twice, as they had just lightly brushed against Qin Qiao's soft, smooth arm.
Qin Qiao was dressed too plainly. With Chen Jiashu's remaining vision, he couldn't tell what style of clothes it was. It seemed to be a sleeveless white dress.
But now is not the time to discuss what she's wearing. Something must have happened to Qin Qiao, otherwise she wouldn't be so panicked.
"The door was slammed shut by the wind."
The two of them bumped into each other while talking.
Upon hearing this, Chen Jiashu breathed a sigh of relief; it wasn't a big deal.
"May I borrow your landline to make a call to the front desk?" Qin Qiao asked softly.
Chen Jiashu nodded.
Qin Qiao hurried inside, her steps frantic. Chen Jiashu, his gaze fixed on her fleeting figure, slowly followed after her.
After ending the call, Qin Qiao turned around, only to find Chen Jiashu right behind him, bumping straight into him.
In her panic, she grabbed his shoulders, and he decisively wrapped his arms around her waist.
The pressure around her waist gradually tightened, and the man's warm breath sprayed onto her forehead. The cool scent of lime mixed with a trace of lingering alcohol overwhelmed all her senses.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, lasting for about half a minute. The absolute silence was broken by their rapid heartbeats, like the beating of drums.
The two arms wrapped around the man were piled up, and his burning gaze was still fixed on her head and neck, immersed in some kind of emotion, but his other fingertips were still probing forward with trembling, landing on her collarbone.
People with poor eyesight rely more on touch; he was confirming something, which was going too far!
Qin Qiao's round eyes almost popped out of their sockets. She hurriedly tried to clench them up, but in her panic, she grabbed Chen Jiashu's arm. The man, seeing that she was trying to break free, simply pulled her into his arms.
Her smooth skin clung to his bathrobe, the collar half-open, allowing his intense heat to contact her without obstruction. At that moment, he realized something, as if struck by lightning, and his body suddenly froze.
Her face was burning hot, probably flushed red, and Qin Qiao pushed him away in a fit of embarrassment and anger. The man took a half step back and bumped into the edge of the bed, and Qin Qiao quickly picked up the bath towel on the floor and wrapped it around herself again.
Chen Jiashu turned his head slowly, a hint of suppressed amusement on his face. He said with a mix of helplessness and amusement, "So you were wearing a bath towel. You didn't tell me..."
He would stay away from her... not to the point of hugging, touching, or cuddling, but he couldn't bear it because it was limited to that.
"You didn't ask either." She felt a little resentful and blamed herself.
A certain desire was growing in his eyes, and finding a 'foothold', he stared intently into her eyes.
Faced with this natural physiological reaction, all she could do was keep her distance, so she took several steps back.
The doorbell rang suddenly, saving Qin Qiao, who hurried outside. Opening the door, she saw a waiter standing outside, a professional smile plastered on his face.
"Madam, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
The waiter swiped his card, opened the door, grasped the doorknob, and stepped aside, saying, "Madam, that's all."
Qin Qiao let out a long sigh, ignoring the two piercing gazes on her back. She simply thanked them in a low voice, then walked past the waiter and entered her room.
The curtains rustled against the walls, sometimes rising and sometimes falling, as snowflakes swirled into the room, leaving watermarks on the floor.
"It's my fault for forgetting to close the window while admiring the snow scene," Qin Qiao said to herself.
With a push of his palm, the window slammed shut.
Back on the bed, I was wide awake. My anxious heart hadn't settled down when a restrained knock sounded at the door.
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