Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 068

Chapter 68 ☆, Forced to Join the Liangshan Rebels.

After taking Mary home, Xin Xin was in low spirits. She leaned her head back and commented on everything she had experienced these past few days.

“A time of great turmoil.”

Zheng Zaochuan glanced at her. “Autumn is almost over.” Then, changing the subject, he asked Xin Xin, “Are you going home for Chinese New Year today?”

Xin Xin was taken aback. Her home was in Northeast China, where winter tourism had become very popular in recent years, resulting in large crowds. She hated the hassle of buying tickets and had not been home for two or three years, though her parents would visit her when they had time.

Haining enjoys a spring-like climate year-round, with little sense of winter. She felt it lacked the festive atmosphere of her childhood New Year celebrations; at most, her family would stroll around nearby cities. Consequently, she did not realize that the New Year was only two weeks away.

Xin Xin pondered several thoughts about whether or not to go home this year. Should she take the opportunity to invite Zheng Zaochuan to visit her home, or would that make him feel pressured to meet her parents?

Finally, Xin Xin decided to throw the question back at Zheng Zaochuan: “What about you? What are your plans for the New Year?”

Zheng Zaochuan said casually, “I plan to start a new company. If I am free by mid-year, I will take another look at projects.”

Xin Xin never asked Zheng Zaochuan about his work or financial situation. Although the two were together, in Xin Xin’s mind, their career development and work situation remained a forbidden zone.

But hearing Zheng Zaochuan’s words and realizing he had no intention of spending the New Year with her, Xin Xin felt a little disappointed, yet also inexplicably relieved.

It seemed like it was just casual conversation, with no particular purpose.

“Then you go ahead with your work. I will go see my parents later. If they don’t come, I will go back home.”

Zheng Zaochuan was silent for a moment before asking casually, “Your home is in the Ice Capital, right? I’ve been there for meetings, but I’ve never been there when it is particularly cold. I’ve heard there are ice sculptures. Are they beautiful?”

Xin Xin’s questioning gaze fell on Zheng Zaochuan’s profile. He looked very calm and casual, without the slightest restraint or unease. But his words were like those of a child, saying with an envious tone, “Your toys look nice,” as if waiting for someone to invite him to play.

Or perhaps he was simply expressing his views on Xin Xin’s hometown.

Xin Xin was not sure what he was thinking, so she asked him, “Do you want to go out and have fun? If you do, I can go with you.”

Zheng Zaochuan hesitated, “But… would it not be inappropriate to go without seeing your parents?”

Xin Xin suddenly realized that Zheng Zaochuan must be worried that their relationship was not stable enough and it was not appropriate to meet her parents, but he also wanted to visit her home during the Chinese New Year.

“It doesn’t matter; I can keep it from my parents. Do not worry, my parents are very open-minded. I will just say I have a boyfriend.”

Zheng Zaochuan paused, his expression darkening, and he did not agree to Xin Xin’s request.

When the two arrived home, Zheng Zaochuan cheered up again. As soon as he entered the door, he quickly kissed Xin Xin and said with a smile, “You can make your usual plans for the New Year. I am going to Jiangcheng to see a friend.”

Xin Xin was used to his unpredictable nature and was very tolerant of his personality. “Okay, whatever.”

She did not ask him if he was going home. Ever since she learned about his family situation, Xin Xin had locked away her curiosity and tried her best not to touch on his sad memories.

In Xin Xin’s view, for people to maintain a lasting and positive relationship, they need to respect certain boundaries. These boundaries were not based on love or lack thereof, or on caring or not caring, but on respect.

This respect was not only reflected in her not asking about his sad stories unless he wanted to talk about them himself. It was also reflected in her acceptance of his personality.

Mary had only one comment on her philosophy: “Cold-blooded, you do not understand love.”

Mary believed that love was the constant breaking and loss of boundaries, a battle of wits and strength where both sides vie for territory, each wielding a sharp sword aimed directly at the other’s Achilles’ heel. Only when they were bruised and battered could they find love and forgiveness for each other at their most vulnerable, nestled together in each other’s arms.

Xin Xin felt that it was too bloody; she believed that her own love was a selfless and great love.

She understood and respected her partner, and when she decided to love them, she accepted everything about them. This was why she let go of each relationship so gracefully.

There was a saying after “sharing weal and woe”: “It is better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes.”

This principle of conduct destined her to never have a very close, confidante friendship. Yet, she effortlessly cultivated an image within the company akin to the Queen of Swords in the Tarot.

She was quick-witted, methodical, and decisive, never making wrong choices due to emotions. In times of chaos, almost everyone trusted her and sought her help.

The investigation into the case of Yang Manman’s assault had entered a critical stage.

Within days of the police investigation, Fang Keyan and Yang Manman’s relationship was exposed to the public. In fact, before this incident, their relationship was at most just a workplace scandal.

But once criminal cases were involved, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

Chen Lisha almost began to wonder if she and the company were incompatible. Ever since she became the head of the company, a series of low-probability events that others would never encounter in many years had happened one after another.

Xin Xin also arrived at the company gate early in the morning and immediately sensed something was wrong; there were reporters at the gate again.

When she was a student, Xin Xin thought that being a journalist was a very interesting profession. But after being harassed by several professional complainants, Xin Xin became extremely tired of the media’s attitude of only caring about getting news, regardless of whether the person involved lived or died.

Upon entering the company building, she saw Mary peeking out and standing there, seemingly looking at something.

“What are you doing?”

Mary was startled by Xin Xin, but she relaxed when she saw it was her and pulled her aside.

“Do you see that reporter outside?”

Xin Xin had not looked closely before, but now, peering through the glass, she saw a very beautiful woman in high heels and a business suit, with a face like a news anchor. She could not quite make out her expression, but from her exquisite makeup and striking red lips, she could tell that someone had come to visit.

“Who is it? What is the matter?”

Hengyang Securities was located in the commercial district of Haining City, surrounded almost entirely by financial companies and listed enterprises. Beneath the glamorous surface lay unspeakable work pressure. Every pedestrian was in a hurry, and apart from employees of the company, no one noticed this unusual detail.

Mary’s expression was playful. “Guess who this woman is?”

Xin Xin glanced at her again. “I do not recognize her.”

Mary raised an eyebrow. “Fang Keyan’s wife.”

“Who?” Xin Xin was taken aback, unconsciously lowering her voice. “What is she doing here?”

“Of course she is here to see the boss; it has nothing to do with small fry like you and me.” As she spoke, Mary glanced at Xin Xin and said with a sigh, “You know what, you have a bit of a philosophy. If you let people who do not want to stay go, something bad will happen sooner or later.”

Xin Xin was both amused and exasperated. “Alright, alright, what does this have to do with me?”

Mary was referring to Yang Manman’s departure. Although Mary had helped Xin Xin through her current predicament, she felt that Xin Xin’s handling of the situation was too weak.

Mary’s suggestion at the time was to have Xin Xin find some excuse to pressure Yang Manman, preventing her from leaving while gradually marginalizing her. Someone who desperately needed a sense of value and was very ambitious would inevitably surrender on their own.

Xin Xin’s view at the time was that since Chen Lisha had already agreed and Fu Meng was determined to take the person, they should just send her away peacefully.

Surprisingly, this gift turned out to be a good thing.

Xin Xin had never liked people who were very goal-oriented, because such people made her feel insecure.

Although both Fu Meng and Yang Manman were very ambitious and ruthless women, Xin Xin seemed to favor Fu Meng more, perhaps because they’d been through some things together.

As the top leader, Chen Lisha should have stepped forward and dealt with these public opinion issues that were about to escalate.

But she was notoriously irresponsible; her favorite pastimes were creating obstacles, muddying the waters, and passing the buck. She would never do anything herself that could be delegated to the deputy general manager. If she had a more responsible deputy, perhaps many problems could have been solved.

As everyone knew, her deputy was Yang Rui, who was even better at shirking responsibility and passing the buck than she was.

So recently, because of Yang Manman’s matter, Fu Meng had been bombarded with questions.

She was tormented like a female ghost, and also had to endure some seemingly true but actually false criticisms.

According to the intelligence Mary received from the front lines, the aggressive female reporter at the door was the result of this situation where no one from top to bottom took responsibility.

“Fang Keyan’s wife said that if she does not see Chen Lisha today, she will immediately broadcast our company’s scandalous affairs live. She is not young anymore, and she is a middle-level manager at the TV station, a respectable figure. She is willing to risk her future to save her philandering husband.”

Xin Xin said incredulously, “Just to find Chen Lisha?”

Mary nodded mysteriously. “Yes, ever since the incident, Chen Lisha has found an excuse to go to the head office to report on her work. Yang Rui is even more outrageous; he almost never went out to do business before, but he has been voluntarily gone on business trips these past two days.”

Xin Xin almost felt sorry for Fu Meng, which explained why Fu Meng even needed her help to coordinate things, because she simply could not get anyone to help.

It was said that Fang Keyan’s wife firmly believed her husband was innocent after learning about the incident. In her view, Yang Manman’s actions were entirely self-inflicted; she not only seduced her husband but also attempted to blackmail them.

She had come several times, but she had not been able to see Chen Lisha. Left with no other choice, she resorted to this tactic.

After Xin Xin and Mary finished swiping their cards and watched the commotion for a while, they finally saw Chen Lisha arrive late, looking anxious. They then pretended nothing had happened and got on the elevator.

As soon as she arrived at the office, Xin Xin sent Zheng Zaochuan a message about what she had seen and heard that day.

The best thing about Zheng Zaochuan was that, regardless of whether it concerned him or not, regardless of what it was, as long as Xin Xin shared it with him, he would be completely absorbed in it from the very first second. He would not only show great interest in the development of the event but also add his own analysis.

“This wife is really suffering, probably because of the child,” Zheng Zaochuan speculated without any reason.

Xin Xin’s desire to share and her sense of accomplishment were greatly satisfied. “What if it is love?”

Zheng Zaochuan readily agreed: “That makes sense; you are right.”

Xin Xin could not help but laugh; Zheng Zaochuan was just too cute.