Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 028

Chapter 28 ☆, Saving A Life Is Better Than Building A Seven-Story Pagoda.

“Wife, um… I’m fine… I just have a headache. Go to bed early. I’m with a client. It’s okay…”

Zheng Zaochuan’s voice was low, trailing off with a slurred tone.

Xin Xin could tell he was drunk. Although she wasn’t sure how drunk he was, seeing how natural and smooth his acting was, she concluded that Zheng Zaochuan was still rational.

Before Xin Xin could say anything, the call was disconnected. Seconds later, Zheng Zaochuan sent his location.

Xinli International Hotel, 501.

Xin Xin recalled the first time Zheng Zaochuan had asked her out privately. It was a nonsensical WeChat message, sending only the address and room number. They weren’t familiar with each other back then, but she’d gone immediately.

Zheng Zaochuan opened the door half-naked, wiping his hair and teasing her, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll suggest you sacrifice yourself?”

Xin Xin ignored the attractive male presence and, after entering, deftly opened the documents and had him sign them.

“You can’t even count the number of people who’ve offered themselves to you. I might even wait in line, and it might not be my turn.” Xin Xin glanced at the disheveled Zheng Zaochuan with a nonchalant air. “Besides, you’re not suggesting I sacrifice myself; you’re offering yourself to me.”

Zheng Zaochuan didn’t explain but simply chuckled. “Then do you accept it?”

Xin Xin carefully checked his signature, put the things away, and then smiled, “I can’t handle it.”

Zheng Zaochuan changed his clothes and gave Xin Xin a big surprise. At that time, Xin Xin had just established herself and was still Zhao Xi’s loyal henchman.

Zheng Zaochuan and a foreign trade company were planning to jointly launch a mobile phone production line and issue bonds. He bypassed Zhao Xi and gave the project to Xin Xin.

Dinner that day was at the hotel. Xin Xin still remembered Zheng Zaochuan, dressed in a black shirt, looking exceptionally elegant. He prepared a champagne-colored dress and beige high heels for Xin Xin and even hired a stylist to do her makeup.

Zheng Zaochuan hadn’t told her any of this in advance. He simply introduced his business partner, saying, “Old Qian isn’t a bad person, but he’s a bit pretentious. If you don’t match his style, he might not think highly of you.”

Xin Xin was a little nervous, with only one thought in her mind: “How much does this outfit cost?”

Zheng Zaochuan smiled. “Not much. Compared to this project, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Xin Xin was uneasy, unsure whether she could repay the favor. But during dinner, she finally understood Zheng Zaochuan’s intentions.

Qian Shengyuan was one of the first entrepreneurs in China to transition from a traditional industry to a technology company. According to Zheng Zaochuan, Boss Qian was obsessed with style. He didn’t care about clothes being comfortable or well-fitting, only about high prices. So when discussing business with him, you had to be stylish and pretentious enough to convince him you were trustworthy.

Xin Xin was skeptical. She was too young at the time and had never won a battle without a fight.

But she soon discovered the truth in Zheng Zaochuan’s words.

Upon seeing Xin Xin, Boss Qian’s expression was pleasantly surprised. “Miss Xin, huh? The person Mr. Zheng introduced really has good taste. These shoes are new from Manolo Blahnik, right? My wife also likes that brand.”

Manolo Blahnik shoes almost always have stiletto heels over six centimeters high. While the brand is said to be very comfortable, that’s obviously only true for those accustomed to wearing high heels.

For Xin Xin, high heels were a beautiful instrument of torture.

But she had to admit that sometimes, to do her job better, she still needed some beautiful instruments of torture.

Mr. Qian viewed the outfit Zheng Zaochuan had prepared for Xin Xin as a sign of respect from her. Therefore, during the subsequent business collaboration, Xin Xin rarely displayed her professional expertise; he trusted her unconditionally.

Of course, the project was indeed a success.

Afterward, Xin Xin looked up the prices of the shoes online and decided she could still afford them, but she couldn’t find a matching dress anywhere. She wanted to return the money to Zheng Zaochuan, but he casually refused.

“A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring. Besides, you’ve done me more than just a drop of kindness.”

Xin Xin reluctantly accepted Zheng Zaochuan’s offer, but it wasn’t until many years later that she discovered the brand of the dress. It was a renowned bridal brand, not something you could simply afford; Zheng Zaochuan must have put in some extra effort.

Zheng Zaochuan never boasted to Xin Xin about the dress, and Xin Xin still keeps it in safekeeping for a rainy day.

Thinking back, Xin Xin’s impression of Zheng Zaochuan was solidified from the moment they first met.

In her eyes, Zheng Zaochuan wasn’t a traditional playboy. More often than not, his kindness to women was based on his knowledge and financial resources. He wouldn’t completely treat women as innocent friends, but he wasn’t obsessed with pursuing the opposite sex either.

It was probably hard for him to explain his thoughts. He would casually flirt with the opposite sex, then casually say, “We’re just friends.”

Because she understood him, Xin Xin couldn’t fall completely in love with him at the most heartwarming moment.

Also, because she knew him, she trusted him completely, believing he would never take advantage of anyone in need.

Xin Xin checked her location and immediately drove to find Zheng Zaochuan.

When she arrived at the hotel room, she found it ajar.

Thinking of Zheng Zaochuan’s attitude on the phone just now, Xin Xin considered her role as a wife and, without knocking, swaggered in. “Zheng Zaochuan, where are you?”

The living room was empty. Xin Xin pushed open the bedroom door and saw a nearly naked, beautiful woman and a disheveled Zheng Zaochuan, shoving and pulling each other, inseparable.

Seeing Xin Xin enter, the woman leaped from the bed and frantically wrapped herself in her clothes.

Xin Xin folded her arms, assuming the airs of a wife.

Seeing her approach, Zheng Zaochuan slowly sat up, a faint smile breaking across his drunken face. He seamlessly began his performance, “Wife… let me explain…”

Xin Xin guessed her role would be that of an angry wife. She glanced coldly at Zheng Zaochuan and the woman. “Am I here at a bad time?”

The woman panicked, “It’s none of my business. I didn’t want to, but he took my clothes off and insisted I stay with him…”

Hearing this, Xin Xin guessed Zheng Zaochuan was in trouble and snapped, “What do you mean? He forced you? He’s so drunk you could probably push him away with one hand. How weak are you to be held hostage by someone so drunk? Get out of here! Don’t let me see you again.”

The woman’s face sank as she dressed and left.

As soon as the woman left, Zheng Zaochuan lay down, tossing his bank card and ID card from his pocket. “Let’s get a new room. Don’t let anyone see us.”

Xin Xin didn’t ask any questions and quickly checked into a new room, carefully transferring Zheng Zaochuan there.

It was then that Xin Xin realized how drunk Zheng Zaochuan was. During the transfer, Zheng Zaochuan practically lay on top of her. After barely making it to the new room, he lost consciousness as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Xin Xin, worried about him, went out to buy hangover remedies and forced them into his mouth. She wiped his face with a hot towel, changed his clothes, and wrapped him up like a cocoon.

Then she took a new blanket and lay down beside Zheng Zaochuan, fully clothed.

She drifted off to sleep until midnight, when she heard a knock on the door. It was the police.

“Please show us your IDs.”

Unsure of what was going on, Xin Xin gave the police both hers and Zheng Zaochuan’s. “What relationship?”

Xin Xin hesitated. “We’re engaged.”

The police officer glanced at Xin Xin, checked her ID, and asked some basic questions. Then, he glanced at the half-asleep Zheng Zaochuan. Xin Xin explained, “He’s drunk.”

“It’s okay. Close the door and get some rest.”

Xin Xin, awakened by the noise, felt unusually alert. She went to see Zheng Zaochuan. His brows were furrowed, his face flushed, and he looked unwell.

Xin Xin placed her hand on his head and was startled. Zheng Zaochuan’s forehead felt so hot it burned to her touch.

Because Zheng Zaochuan had been drinking, Xin Xin didn’t dare give him any medicine without his permission. She made a fuss and called an ambulance, sending him to the hospital.

After a thorough examination, it turned out nothing serious was wrong.

Zheng Zaochuan, a large man, didn’t even have a bed in the emergency room. Huddled on a small stool, sitting with an IV drip, he muttered groggily about feeling unwell. Xin Xin felt pity for him and carefully rested his head on her shoulder.

After the IV drip, it was already the next morning.

Zheng Zaochuan sobered up, his fever gone. He opened his eyes to see Xin Xin dozing with her head against his.

A ray of morning sunlight streamed in through the window, catching Xin Xin’s eyelashes, making them flicker. Zheng Zaochuan’s heart suddenly softened. As if possessed, he placed his hand on Xin Xin’s eyelashes, feeling the flutter of her eyes as if he were holding a small animal.

Xin Xin, woken by him, complained, “I’m so sleepy.”

Her voice was hoarse, like she was being coquettish.

At that moment, Zheng Zaochuan found it extremely difficult to speak to her naturally. As if to conceal a subtle awkwardness, he said nonchalantly, “You don’t have a cold, do you?”

Xin Xin frowned. Still drowsy and not fully awake, she mumbled, “No, you do.”

As she spoke, Xin Xin suddenly remembered something.

“Did someone drug you yesterday?”

The more Xin Xin thought about it, the more likely it seemed. “Was it one of those indescribable drugs from novels? If you took it, it would be like being poisoned by Ten Fragrance Soft Bone Powder. You’d be unable to take care of yourself, unable to extricate yourself, and your whole body would be hot…”

Zheng Zaochuan was at a loss for words. “Stop, stop, stop. Don’t project things from novels into reality.”

Xin Xin curled her lips and looked at Zheng Zaochuan warily. “Your intentions are despicable. Well, thank goodness I was smart; otherwise, I’d have sacrificed myself to save you.”

Zheng Zaochuan was amused by her. “If I were truly in danger of my own life, what’s wrong with you sacrificing yourself? I’m so handsome; you won’t necessarily suffer any loss by sacrificing yourself to me.”

Xin Xin deliberately adopted a Joan of Arc-like tone, saying, “Don’t try to use your beauty on me. You’re my client and pure friend. Pure men are everywhere, but pure friends are precious. We must cherish each other.”

Xin Xin was joking, but Zheng Zaochuan’s smile subtly faded, leaving behind a hint of helpless compromise.

“Yes, pure opposite-sex relationships may last longer.”