Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 044

Chapter 44 ☆, The Battle of Love.

Mary didn’t mind people calling her a vixen.

Like scumbags, vixens had no clear boundaries; they could be treacherous or, at best, give a flirtatious glance. Men and women with attractive appearances who was often favored by the opposite sex was inevitably labeled with negative stereotypes.

If someone was gentle and affectionate, some people would label them as a “central air conditioner” or a “green tea bitch.”

If someone was cold and indifferent, they are more likely to be labeled as a scumbag or a heartless person.

Mary believed she had never been in multiple relationships, never lied to anyone about her feelings, and had no habit of stringing people along. She was open and honest with those she liked and equally clear with those she did not.

When she was with Han Canghai, perhaps her biggest mistake was to romanticize her intentional approach as a match made in heaven.

After the breakup, she neither pestered him nor called him a scumbag; she silently licked her wounds on her own.

In all honesty, no ex was more self-aware than her.

Even if she was drunk that day and called Han Canghai when she was completely out of her mind, it wasn’t anything heinous, yet it enraged Han Canghai so much that he specifically invited her to dinner and verbally attacked her.

Mary couldn’t help but cry out that she was innocent.

However, before Mary could effectively refute Han Canghai’s questions one by one, Han Canghai sat in silence for a long while, his face pale. Finally, he gritted his teeth and asked, word by word, “Therefore, do you want to start over with me?”

Mary’s eyes widened slowly. Her mind raced, but she couldn’t reconcile the man in front of her, who looked so nervous he was about to faint, with the man who had just accused her of having ambiguous relationships with other men.

How were these two completely different feelings connected by “therefore”?

Mary was a little confused. “Let me think about it.”

Han Canghai stared at her and said with a wry smile, “I knew it; you were just teasing me.”

Mary had a bad feeling. “What exactly did I say that day?”

“You said you still like me and asked if I wanted to start over with you.”

Mary couldn’t believe that she could do something so undignified while drunk.

Of course, this was actually made up by Han Canghai.

He bet she remembered nothing.

“And then? Isn’t that perfect? ​​You still like him, and he still wants to start a relationship with you. Why don’t you give it another try?” After hearing Mary’s story, Xin Xin didn’t feel there was anything to be upset about.

Mary, however, had her own theory: “Generally speaking, when two people break up and get back together, they will break up again under the same circumstances. And the second time they break up, the damage to both of them will increase exponentially.”

Xin Xin had little experience with this, so she could only agree, “That makes sense. So what do you plan to do?”

Mary gave a bleak smile. “I admit it, I still like him a lot. But I won’t be with him.”

He’s with someone, unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless he comes to pursue me. This time, it’s his turn to try. That’s how love is; you’re either the attacker or the defender. If you’re not careful, you lose the initiative.”

Xin Xin stared in disbelief, then gave a thumbs up, “Master.”

Indeed, everyone had their own area of ​​expertise.

Her professional life was fraught with danger, while Mary’s love life took unexpected turns.

Xin Xin didn’t actually expect to use this case to cause Su Chengjie any trouble.

But amidst Su Chengjie’s elaborate interference, Xin Xin suspected that she had uncovered a major problem that she herself hadn’t even noticed.

Judging from all the signs, Su Chengjie was really anxious, which meant that the information she submitted was not as insignificant as it seemed on the surface.

At this critical juncture, Zhao Xi also called her.

Previously, when Zhao Xi was embroiled in the Jingcheng incident, he told Xin Xin that he was having a very difficult time. At that time, Xin Xin did not understand what he meant, but now that the truth had come out, Xin Xin guessed that Chen Gang and Lin Chong’an were fighting to the death, and as a frontline soldier, he could not escape the life-or-death struggle.

Moreover, Lin Chong’an likely harbored some personal resentment towards Zhao Xi.

Now that Lin Chong’an had lost power, Zhao Xi was naturally riding high.

“Xin Xin, are you investigating Su Chengjie?”

After not seeing each other for so long, the first thing he asked on the phone was for such timely information.

“Mr. Zhao is really well-informed.”

Zhao Xi wasn’t joking with her and quickly said, “Stop investigating.”

Xin Xin smiled, and her words and tone were exactly the same as Zheng Zaochuan’s from a few days ago.

“Mr. Zhao, I didn’t investigate Su Chengjie. I just found that one customer at the branch was controlling multiple accounts, which was a normal report to the regulator.”

Zhao Xi lowered his voice. “Xin Xin, Su Chengjie has already spoken to your department head.”

Xin Xin smiled and said, “Oh? You’re moving aside for me?”

“That’s definitely not the case, but if you continue investigating, I’m afraid you’ll be implicated. Xin Xin, when a building is about to collapse, it will naturally come to a conclusion. But right now, Su Chengjie is at the height of his power, and doing this will not do you any good.”

Xin Xin knew Zhao Xi meant well. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”

Zhao Xi sighed heavily on the phone, “Why are you so stubborn? I really want to protect you.”

Xin Xin smiled and said, “The master leads you through the door, but the cultivation depends on yourself. Master, I’m perfectly fine, so don’t worry.”

Zhao Xi was taken aback, then said with a hint of helplessness, “So you’re starting to think of me as your mentor again? Xin Xin, if we’re not in the same company, do I still have a chance?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you say before that Fu Meng and I broke up because of work? If we get back together, am I afraid we’ll repeat the same mistake? I told you I can leave on my own.”

Xin Xin was startled; she had no recollection of saying such a thing. She had never imagined having any romantic involvement with Zhao Xi, so how could such a misunderstanding have arisen?

“No, that’s not the issue,” Xin Xin stammered as she explained.

Zhao Xi interrupted her, “Because of Zheng Zaochuan? You won’t be happy with him. He’s not someone you can entrust your life to. He has so many women around him. It’s not worth it for you to go against Su Chengjie for him.”

Xin Xin was speechless. To say Zhao Xi’s information was wrong didn’t seem entirely wrong either. But to say his information was right was also strangely unsettling.

“Zhao Xi, these are three completely different things: you and me, me and Zheng Zaochuan, and my investigation of Su Chengjie.”

Zhao Xi seemed a little unhappy. “I’ll make you understand how wrong your choice was.”

Xin Xin didn’t understand what Zhao Xi was saying at all.

But she inexplicably started paying attention to Zheng Zaochuan’s romantic history.

Without needing to do any calculations, Xin Xin knew that it was roughly nothing more than the phrase “as numerous as the stars.”

She told Zheng Zaochuan about Su Meiling.

“Oh right, we haven’t been in touch since, and I forgot to tell you. Su Meiling is Su Chengjie’s niece, but how should I put it? Their relationship is more about self-interest than kinship. If Su Chengjie really gets into trouble, Su Meiling will cut ties without hesitation.”

Zheng Zaochuan was wearing comfortable and soft home clothes, and his unkempt hair obediently fell from his forehead, making him look somewhat childish and particularly harmless.

He didn’t seem like a scumbag at all. I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but when Zheng Zaochuan said the name “Su Meiling” in his deep and gentle voice, it had a soft and alluring quality.

Xin Xin was filled with mixed emotions, and she couldn’t help but want to delve into Zheng Zaochuan’s past relationships.

The names she knew were like thorns, piercing her heart. They didn’t hurt, but they were incredibly painful, and this pain gradually brewed into a deep-seated resentment.

“How come you’re so popular with the opposite sex?”

Zheng Zaochuan probed the deeper meaning in her micro-expressions, “Are you jealous?”

Xin Xin confessed, “I’m not feeling very comfortable, but I wouldn’t say I’m jealous.”

Zheng Zaochuan laughed and said, “How annoying! Everyone else shows that they really like me; why do you always judge me?”

Xin Xin had never taken Zheng Zaochuan’s words to heart before, but ever since he confided in her about his impoverished childhood, Xin Xin suddenly noticed some details that she hadn’t paid much attention to before.

Zheng Zaochuan might not even realize how much he craved love.

He relentlessly collected women’s affections, treasuring each woman’s love and tenderness like trophies. When he discovered that others were not as controllable as he thought, he feigned hurt and quickly portrayed himself as a victim.

“A man like you needs a very strong woman who can give you unconditional and loving love. She also needs to withstand your tests and then shine on you like sunshine. What you need is not even a lover, but the Virgin Mary.”

Zheng Zaochuan looked up and saw Xin Xin’s thoughtful and inquisitive gaze fixed on him.

Cold, formulaic, and exploratory.

Zheng Zaochuan instinctively hated this feeling. He moved closer and enveloped Xin Xin with his scent. His fabric softener smelled like grapefruit, and Xin Xin had always liked his scent.

Now, Xin Xin’s clothes also used the same fabric softener and had the same smell.

But Zheng Zaochuan’s aura was stronger, carrying the heat of his breath. He wrapped his arms around Xin Xin and whispered in her ear, “Look, when I’m holding you like this, don’t I look like a little sun?”

Like a mischievous child, he wrapped his arms around Xin Xin, stepped back slightly, and stared intently into her eyes with a smile on his lips, as if waiting for her reaction.

Xin Xin’s heart skipped a beat. A strange sense of defiance kept her from looking away, and she moved her face even closer. Their lips were just an inch apart, and she smiled too.

“I guess you are a little sun for many people.”

The next moment, Xin Xin’s lips were pressed with a gentle, wet kiss. She tried to push it away, but the back of her head was firmly held. Zheng Zaochuan forcefully invaded Xin Xin’s lips and kissed her earnestly.

Xin Xin felt short of breath, searching for the thin air in Zheng Zaochuan’s breath.

After a while, Zheng Zaochuan released her, took a few steps back, and composed himself with his disordered breathing.

“You misunderstand me. I’m not a casual person.”

Xin Xin smiled and took the initiative to meet him. “Don’t be nervous. I won’t ask you for a promise just because we kissed.”