Chapter 36 Li Zeqing
Chapter 36
Wen Yining didn't actually feel very sad. She just stared blankly at the table, suddenly losing her appetite. When she came to her senses, she was about to stand up and go back when she suddenly heard a noise at the door.
Subconsciously looking up, I saw that Li Changjing, who had already left, had suddenly returned and strode in through the door.
She was startled, and stared blankly as Li Changjing walked towards her. "Why are you back again?"
Li Changjing seemed to have rushed back. He stopped in front of her, looked at her face, and couldn't utter the sweet words that came to mind. After a pause, he just smiled, reached out and touched her hair, and whispered, "It's nothing. I just suddenly wanted to hug you halfway there."
As he spoke, he gently pulled her into his arms. Wen Yining rested her head on his chin, her waist wrapped around his, inhaling the familiar scent of Li Changjing.
She really didn't want to be so easily coaxed by him, but every time this happened, she could clearly feel that Li Changjing liked her.
Wen Yining still couldn't bring herself to ask him to meet his friend, but the matter lingered in her mind. After waiting two more days, she finally sent him a message about it.
Li Changjing agreed more readily than expected, saying he would take time to treat them to a meal after he finished this busy period. Wen Yining, as if she had completed a task, told the two of them about it, but the two of them started to hesitate.
*
S University's scholarships are known for being very generous. Although the quotas had been announced long ago, Wen Yining still felt a sense of unreality when she saw the five-figure amount in the text message.
She had long wanted to treat Li Changjing to a meal, and now she could finally do so.
When she talked to her parents on the phone that night about this, they also told her something.
My dad has a friend he hasn't contacted in a long time, surnamed Qin. Wen Yining had some impression of him when she was a child. He seemed like a very unserious uncle. Some time ago, he tried to persuade my dad to invest in his business, making all sorts of promises and guaranteeing that he would make a profit. He said that if you invested 10,000 yuan, you could earn 20,000 yuan in the second month, and it would keep increasing.
No one would believe such a thing, but a few days ago, Uncle Qin directly handed over five thousand yuan, saying that he didn't want to see his friend miss a good opportunity, so he took it upon himself to invest for him. This five thousand yuan was a share, and there would be more in the future. Dad just needed to register and sign the contract.
Dad went to see the company, and it turned out to be a very famous enterprise. But this was too outrageous; it was like a pie falling from the sky.
In her parents' minds, this daughter is smart and studies in the capital, so she must know a lot. They wanted to ask for her opinion.
Wen Yining, a college student who hadn't yet entered the workforce and hadn't witnessed it firsthand, called Li Changjing to tell him about it when she invited him to dinner, wanting to ask for his opinion.
"Don't worry, don't think about anything," Li Changjing gently comforted her. "Focus on your exam, leave this to me, I'll arrange for someone to investigate."
As Wen Yining listened to Li Changjing's calm and composed voice, her tense and anxious heart slowly relaxed, and she loosened her grip on the phone.
It seemed that with him around, all problems could be easily solved, and Li Changjing was always thoughtful and meticulous in his work, so she didn't need to explain anything to him.
In fact, the moment she heard the news, she thought it might be his doing, but after hearing what he said, she dismissed that guess.
Wen Yining was relieved. "Okay, I'll send you the restaurant location and room number later."
*
After hanging up the phone, Li Changjing picked up the landline on the table and asked Secretary Feng to come into his office.
Secretary Feng closed the door and walked to the desk. "You wanted to see me?"
Li Changjing's face was grim as he tapped his fingers on the table. "There can be no mistakes with the Wen family matter. Remember, make sure he keeps his mouth shut."
Secretary Feng said in a low voice, "Don't worry, arrangements will be made for Qin Yuliang's whole family to go abroad immediately, and they will no longer have any contact with Mr. Wen."
“Yue Feng brought people to his house before, and now that he has received the money, he is even less likely to say anything reckless.”
After Secretary Feng finished speaking, looking at the cold and stern expression on his face, she smiled and tentatively said, "Those who can't speak are still the most discreet."
"No need." Li Changjing said indifferently, picking up his phone and looking down at his text message.
Then I put down my phone and said, “I’ve sent you the time and address. Go contact the person in charge and arrange for a fake menu. The prices will be 30% lower, and the variety will be reduced by 20%.”
Secretary Feng nodded: "Okay."
Li Changjing suddenly chuckled, stood up, and walked to the window. His tone was like talking about a child, seemingly a little helpless, but his voice was full of laughter, "Xiao Wen, after getting the scholarship, insisted on treating me to dinner."
Secretary Feng was a shrewd person, and of course he could hear the slight boastfulness in Li Changjing's casual tone. He was both surprised and amused. He didn't expect that this young master Li, who was so mature for his age, had such a side. Thinking this, he couldn't help but take another look at Li Changjing.
However, he showed no sign of it on his face and praised Wen Yining in a very measured way.
If the other party doesn't know, they won't appreciate his kindness, and then all the planning over the past few months will have been for nothing.
They went to great lengths to find a suitable company, to make things look exactly like the real thing, and to spend a lot of money to have that guy surnamed Qin act along, and to arrange for his whole family to go abroad.
This style of doing good deeds anonymously and being extremely secretive about it for fear of the other party finding out is really unlike the style of Director Li, who always has ulterior motives and won't act without personal gain.
Secretary Feng lowered his voice and asked, "Should I let Miss Wen know a little bit about this?"
Li Changjing looked out the window and chuckled softly upon hearing this. "Feng Yi, do you know that the people in Group 2 all say in private that you've been with me for a long time and have learned my true skills?"
Feng Yi was first startled. Such ambiguous words must have been said in private, yet he knew them. Then he was startled again because he didn't understand the meaning of Li Changjing's words and suspected that Li Changjing was giving him a warning.
Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. Although his leader was young, he had been immersed in the power struggles of the court since childhood. Outsiders thought he was an approachable and talented young man, but as Li Changjing's protégé, he naturally knew how cunning Director Li was in private.
His mind raced, and he didn't dare to speak for a moment.
Li Changjing looked out the window, firmly believing that if you do a good deed and no one knows about it, then the good deed is done in vain.
In fact, in this world, it's not just profit that can be obtained through scheming, but also feelings.
He could indeed secretly treat her well without telling her, and then subtly let her find out about it. Even if she gets angry and resentful after finding out, this incident would make her care about him even more.
This is something he would definitely have done in the past.
But he doesn't want to do that now, for no reason, he just doesn't want to.
Li Changjing remained silent for a long time, so long that Secretary Feng was almost anxiously wondering if his words were a warning to her. Only then did he turn his head and smile, "I know you want to help me, but you don't need to do anything about this. You must hold this position for me."
Secretary Feng lowered her head. "Understood."
*
Wen Yining treated her roommates to dinner after receiving the money, and soon the day she was supposed to meet Li Changjing arrived.
It was a chilly, overcast day. The weather forecast said it would turn cloudy and then snow lightly. In the late afternoon, the sky was dark and yellow, and the wind was biting. Pedestrians on the road hurried along, wrapped in bulky down jackets and scarves.
Beicheng is a city with extremely distinct seasons, and the scenery in each season is very vivid. Gu Lingling and Jiang Fengqing are both from the south, and even after studying in Beicheng for a year, they still couldn't stand the winter weather. Wen Yining, on the other hand, is from the north and adapted well to the temperature and food in Beicheng.
To accommodate Li Changjing's habits, Wen Yining didn't book any trendy restaurants, but instead booked a very business-like restaurant. The food might not be particularly special, but the privacy and ambiance were excellent.
Wen Yining arrived first. Not wanting to wait idly in the private room, she wrapped herself in a down jacket and scarf to cover the lower half of her face, revealing only her clear eyes and delicate nose. She stood at the entrance of the parking lot, waiting for Li Changjing and Xue at the same time.
Despite being from the north, she shared the same obsession with snow as the two southerners.
She was already looking forward to it just because the forecast said it would snow.
Li Changjing sent her a message before he left, but she waited in the parking lot for a long time, with cars coming and going, but she didn't see Li Changjing's car. The cold wind was so strong that she was almost frozen to the bone. Just as she was about to go back, she saw a row of identical black sedans driving up in front of her.
Her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly looked at the car logo and license plate, only to be disappointed to find that it was not Li Changjing's car.
Although the car's logo was unremarkable, the body was brand new and glossy black, exuding an extremely bright black that seemed to have its own luster even on a dark, overcast day, shining with a stern and oppressive light.
Coupled with this unusual pomp and circumstance, it makes one instinctively want to keep their distance.
As she watched the row of cars turn and drive towards her, Wen Yining lowered her eyes and took a small step back.
One car after another slowly drove past her, their bodies clearly reflecting her shadow and the gloomy sky behind her. When the second-to-last car passed by, it suddenly stopped, and the back door was opened from the inside.
Wen Yining looked up in surprise, only to see that the person who came down was Li Changjing.
He looked like he had just come from a formal occasion. Despite the freezing cold, he was only wearing a formal suit, shirt, and tie, all neatly made up, with a long black overcoat over it. He had broad shoulders, long legs, and a handsome face.
Li Changjing is the kind of person who is very suitable for formal wear. His temperament is even more stunning than his face. He doesn't remind people of a cold and serious domineering CEO, but you can tell at a glance that he has the air of someone who lives in a high position. He is gentle, elegant, upright and noble.
Even though Wen Yining isn't someone who cares about looks, she couldn't help but be amazed.
He thought to himself that even if Li Changjing hadn't been born into such a family, with just his face and charisma, he could have become a household name in the entertainment industry.
"Why are you standing here?" Li Changjing frowned, and quickly walked over to shake her hand, clearly displeased. His expression worsened when he touched her cold hand. "Was it too hot in the private room? Did you come out to cool off?"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Wen Yining listened to his sarcastic remarks with a smile, holding his hand, and very patiently refrained from arguing back.
The front passenger window rolled down, revealing a familiar face. Secretary Feng greeted her with a smile, "Ms. Wen, it's been a long time."
Wen Yining took a moment to recognize it, then suppressed her surprise and politely smiled and nodded at Secretary Feng.
Secretary Feng then looked at Li Changjing, her tone unconsciously becoming more serious, "Then I'll bring it to you later."
Li Changjing nodded.
Secretary Feng smiled and nodded to Wen Yining, the window rolled up, and the row of cars slowly drove away.
Wen Yining was carried by him as they turned and walked into the hotel. She blurted out instinctively, "Didn't Fang Qi say you got promoted? Why is Secretary Feng still your secretary?"
After asking the question, she realized what he meant, her heart skipped a beat, she pursed her lips and subconsciously looked at his profile. Li Changjing was looking ahead, not at her, his expression unchanged, showing no sign of unhappiness.
But he didn't answer her question.
Wen Yining looked away, as if she hadn't asked, lowered her head and stiffly forced a smile, awkwardly changing the subject, "I saw in the weather forecast that it will snow today."
Li Changjing smiled at her as if he hadn't heard her words, and teased her casually, "Only children believe in weather forecasts."
“I’m not a child,” Wen Yining retorted casually.
She truly felt that she had grown up and changed. The stubborn and inflexible girl she once was could now, while feeling heartbroken, casually imitate him and joke around with him.
The topic was quickly steered away from the subject.
As long as they don't talk about certain issues, they are a loving couple.
After entering the private room, Wen Yining hung up her coat and sat down. Afraid that he would pay the bill, she held up the menu and couldn't help but emphasize again, "I told you it's my treat today, so you're not allowed to pay secretly!"
Li Changjing, dressed only in a white shirt and black tie, leaned casually against the chair, looking at Wen Yining. Hearing her unusually assertive tone and attitude, he suddenly found it amusing and couldn't help but laugh. He took out his phone and handed it to her.
Wen Yining presented the menu to him and was somewhat surprised to find that the prices on the menu were much cheaper than what she saw on the website. She frowned as she flipped through it, "Why are there so few dishes on this menu? Many of the dishes I saw on the website are not available."
Li Changjing placed his hand on the back of her chair, glanced at it, and casually said, "It's probably taken off the shelves. It's okay, let's look at the others."
When ordering, Wen Yining ordered dishes and desserts according to Li Changjing's usual habits. While saying the names of the dishes, she was always on guard that Li Changjing would advise her to order less, but as always, Li Changjing did not offer any opinions. He did not say anything about her paying for the meal or that he would advise her to order less because she was not as well-off as him. This put Wen Yining's tense heart at ease.
Halfway through the meal, the phone on the table rang. Wen Yining looked at the phones stacked together beside them and handed Li Changjing the lit-up screen.
He took it and said a few words, "No need, wait for me in the car, I'll get out."
After hanging up the phone, he stood up and said to Wen Yining, "Secretary Feng is downstairs. I'll go down for a bit and be right back."
Wen Yining was used to his busy schedule and nodded, "Okay."
Li Changjing went out wearing only a shirt. Wen Yining put down her chopsticks, took out her phone, and took the opportunity to pay the bill.
She had barely sat down when there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in."
A waiter with a professional smile walked in from outside the private room. "Mr. Shen and his entourage from Fengmao are at the door and would like to come in to greet Mr. Li Zeqing. Would you be willing to let them in?"
Feng Mao's General Manager Shen? Li Zeqing?
I don't know any of them.
Wen Yining shook her head. "They've gone to the wrong room. There's no one named Li Zeqing here."
The waiter went out and quickly returned with a professional, apologetic smile. "President Shen and the others said that they had met Mr. Li once before at the 20th meeting, and now it's rare for them to see Mr. Li. They just came in to say hello and hope Mr. Li will do them the honor."
Wen Yining put down her phone, feeling helpless. "But there really isn't anyone named Li Zeqing here."
The waiter smiled awkwardly, "That's exactly what I was trying to convey, but..."
Judging from the waitress's expression, the people outside were clearly people she couldn't afford to offend; they were probably high-ranking officials and dignitaries who frequented the place.
As someone who was also a beast of burden, Wen Yining understood her feelings very well. She put down her phone and stood up, saying, "Then I'll go open the door and talk to them."
Wen Yining followed the waiter out. Outside the door were five or six middle-aged men in suits who looked very imposing, each holding a glass of wine. When they saw the door open, their faces widened in surprise, and when their eyes met hers, they were clearly disappointed.
Wen Yining opened the door, revealing that the private room was empty. She said helplessly, "You all see, there really is no one named Li Zeqing inside."
The private room was empty; there wasn't a single person in it.
A middle-aged man said with a stern face, "Xiao Zhang, didn't you see him enter this private room with your own eyes?"
Seeing that Xiao Zhang's expression was about to break, Wen Yining kindly offered a suggestion, "Could he have gone into the next room? Should we go and check next door?"
Nobody paid any attention to her suggestion.
The middle-aged men looked displeased and, without even checking next door, picked up their wine glasses and prepared to leave.
Wen Yining stood at the door watching their departing figures. Just as she was about to go in, she saw Li Changjing coming out of the elevator and walking towards her with the others.
Author's Note: Forgive me for being so sensitive. I had a bad cold and menstrual cramps, and I was so dizzy and disoriented sitting in front of the computer. I just instinctively wrote this chapter. The words I missed yesterday will be made up for evenly across the other chapters.
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