Han Qian, unable to evade the kick, sat on the sofa glaring furiously at Yan Qingqing. That woman had pulled no punches—she really meant to leave him limping. Now, she hid behind Ji Jing, peeking out sheepishly.
I'm blackmailing Tu Xiao, not you! Why take it out on me?
His furious roar sent Yan Qingqing scurrying for cover. Honestly, did she think a big man like him couldn't handle her? He'd simply chosen not to bother, but enough was enough!
"Look at this! I hardly own a few outfits, and you've ruined them. Do you think I'm like Yang Jie, changing clothes every day? Winter's coming—I've been saving up to buy new clothes, can't I?"
Grinding his teeth, Han Qian glared at her. Yan Qingqing, peeking from behind Ji Jing's shoulder, mumbled,
"I'll buy you a new LV set."
"I don't need it! Just draft the contract, and don't stand in the way of Tu Xiao and Gao Lüxing meeting. After they settle on a price, let me know, and I'll hammer it down. When the dust settles, you can take the credit if you want. And as for me, am I some sort of punishment magnet? What did I do in my past life to deserve running into the likes of you lot?"
The more he spoke, the more aggrieved he felt. Rising, he wiped at his eyes with his sleeve, storming out of Yan Qingqing's office in a huff. He was genuinely on the verge of tears—first Wen Nuan, now this… Yan Qingqing, Aunt Ji Jing, green tea Wu Siwan, tomboy Qian Wan'er…
What was he, some tragic reincarnation?
Han Qian left.
Yan Qingqing let out a relieved sigh, hand over her ample chest, breathing heavily. Ji Jing watched the closed door with a puzzled frown.
"Did we really just reduce him to tears? Do you truly believe he can not only hammer down that price but also force Tu Xiao to cooperate with you? If he manages it, your position here is secured for years, if not decades. Wait—he said 'you lot'—was he including me? Does being surrounded by women count as a punishment?"
Yan Qingqing slumped over her desk with a groan.
"Miss Ji Jing, could you please stop tormenting me? If Han Qian says he can do it, I believe him. My trust in him is as firm as my trust in you—maybe even more so. Otherwise, how could he be Wen Nuan's ex-husband and still have that silly girl pining after him? Who's the real fool here?"
Ji Jing turned, her voice soft.
"Funny—I'd forgotten he was the ex-husband of Changxiang's Vice President. What's he doing here in Rongyao, slaving away for you? Did you lure him in?"
Those last words made Yan Qingqing collapse even further, her voice barely a whisper.
"You think I could lure him? Haven't you noticed how flirty he is—never once glancing my way? He's practically glued to that Su Liang in the comprehensive department. I'm starting to wonder if he even likes women at all! Ugh, it's infuriating—why are all the best men always flawed? Am I not pretty enough? Are my legs too short? And Wen Nuan—she's 172 cm! What, does she eat fertilizer or something? Is it too late for me to start now?"
"Try some yeast."
"Get lost! I don't want to talk to you anymore. When you leave, tell Yang Jia to ask Han Qian what kind of contract he wants so the comprehensive department can draft it properly. One more word from you, and I'll have you out on the construction site—believe it!"
Ji Jing left without another word, utterly unfazed.
…
Back in his office, Han Qian stared at the mountain of snacks, bewildered. What was this—some sort of love confession? It felt so childish. Yang Lan explained with an amused smile.
Little Yang Jia had weighed herself and found she'd gained three kilos. Terrified, she dumped all her snacks on Han Qian's desk, declaring that if she was going to get fat, he had to join her.
Han Qian couldn't help but chuckle at the explanation.
"She's such a fool—of course she'd be heavier right after lunch. Let everyone else have these, Yang Jie. Just say they're from you—consider it a treat on me. She'll probably come after me tomorrow for this anyway. Go on, everyone, help yourselves!"
He cheerfully offered them up, but not a single person dared touch them. First, they feared him; second, there was Li Dongsheng. Han Qian sighed, resigned.
"Yang Jie, please. Yan always leaves me with errands—"
"Han Qian, you dog! Come out and face me!"
He was just about to slip away when Yang Jia stormed in, cheeks puffed with rage. There were only two options: die here in the comprehensive department, or buy her a new batch of 'pig feed' snacks. Han Qian looked at her, genuinely puzzled.
"Pig feed's edible? I remember trying it as a kid—pretty scratchy on the throat. You had to soak it in water first."
"Han Qian, I swear I'm going to kill you!"
Yang Jia was nearly in tears. If not for Manager Ji's quick explanation earlier, she would've thought she was truly getting fat. Yang Lan quickly pulled her by the ear into her office, and Han Qian seized the chance to slip away. As he turned at the door, he smiled back at the others.
"I'm off to buy some pig feed for Yang Jia. Feel free to enjoy these snacks—consider it my apology for getting you all banned from gaming."
And with that, he was gone, not caring whether they ate or not. As for Yang Jia's snacks… well, that was inevitable.
At the front of the building, security guards now knew him by sight. No one in Rongyao seemed to have more free time than this wandering immortal.
Just as he was about to light a cigarette, a slim white cigarette was offered to his lips. Han Qian accepted it and turned to see Gao Lüxing, who smiled out at the horizon.
"Too long in the office—it gets stifling. Tell me, Han Qian, do you think cars are expensive?"
"That depends on the car."
"Your ex-mother-in-law's Porsche? Cars are cheap, really. Drive someone else's and you'll be cautious. But if you want one for yourself, it's simple."
At that moment, a brand-new Panamera pulled up at the front door. Sun Ya stepped out, all smiles, fresh from her meeting with Guan Dagou and following a call from Gao Lüxing to collect the car.
She blew him a playful kiss, and he grinned, turning back to Han Qian.
"Whenever you want it, just come to me. You're smart—I know what you can give me, and I can give you the same. As for women… lines of third-rate starlets are yours to choose from. I won't rush you, but remember—opportunities vanish with a single misstep."
Han Qian's laugh was cold.
"Stars? My old man used to say: 'The moon in the water, the stars in the sky—some things belong above, not in the fields I plow. They'd never survive there.'"
"Hah!"
Gao Lüxing's chuckle was inscrutable. He stepped down to join Sun Ya, leaving Han Qian staring coldly at the gleaming Panamera.
Gao Lüxing wasn't a discerning patron—more like a greedy warlord.
Yan Qingqing might defy Li Dongsheng for him, but Gao Lüxing would bury him in an instant for Li Dongsheng.
At least, that was how Han Qian saw it.
He had his reasons—fundamentally, Gao Lüxing had no real need for someone like him. Yan Qingqing did.
Under Yan Qingqing, he could let his fists fly freely.
He finished his cigarette, glanced at his phone.
"Two o'clock already. About time to clock out."
He descended the steps. As the Panamera glided out of the lot, heading in the opposite direction of home, Han Qian turned and walked towards the hospital.
Back in the general manager's office, Yang Jia stood nervously before Yan Qingqing.
"Y-yan Zong, it looks like Han Qian left early. I gave your message to Yang Lan in the comprehensive department."
Yan Qingqing's pen snapped in her hand. She drew a deep breath, reminding herself to stay calm. She had made this bed; she would lie in it.
"Which way did he go?"
"Towards the hospital, I think."
Five minutes later, the red Raptor roared to life, a baseball bat and burlap sack on the passenger seat.
Swallow your pride for peace, but let it slip, and you'll be crushed to dust.
She would not slip.
"Han Qian, you're dead meat. Big sister is coming to give you the pampering you deserve."