Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 079

Chapter 79 ☆, Suspicion, Struggle, and Unease.

Xin Xin felt it necessary to explain Zhao Xi’s situation, but Zheng Zaochuan showed no intention of asking. It was as if seeing his girlfriend talking to a male colleague downstairs was something perfectly normal.

Of course, everything was actually normal.

Aside from Zhao Xi’s seemingly joking remark at the end, “I like you very much.”

Zheng Zaochuan not only did not ask, but when Xin Xin tried to find an opportunity to explain, Zheng Zaochuan kept interrupting. In the end, Zheng Zaochuan’s nonchalant attitude and unwavering confidence made Xin Xin not only fail to explain but also completely forget to tell Zheng Zaochuan that she might be transferred to work for Zhao Xi.

Perhaps it was because Zheng Zaochuan was busy preparing for his new company that he had no time to pay attention to this small emotional turmoil.

After that day, Xin Xin did not see him for several more days.

The previously rumored layoff plan at Hengyang Securities had finally come to a conclusion.

It was not as serious as rumored. The collective salary reduction in the securities industry was expected, but apart from some temporary staff being laid off, the changes in middle and senior management were not as big as imagined; there were only adjustments to job titles.

For middle and senior managers, job level adjustments and dismissals were essentially the same. If the salary reduction was too large or the job level was lowered too much, many people would find it difficult to accept, both in terms of their personal lives and their reputation, and they might as well find another way to make a living.

As a result, another group of people voluntarily resigned.

Xin Xin had nothing to did with the salary reduction and layoffs, so she remained still and quietly observed the situation.

Interestingly, Fu Meng was among the first on the list of layoffs that were circulating widely in Haining City at the time. Now that the personnel reshuffle was complete, Fu Meng not only stayed but also got promoted, seemingly becoming the successor to the branch company’s vice president.

Mary called Xin Xin to report the situation, “Fu Meng’s job rank has been adjusted, and Zhang Qiao has been promoted. Congratulations!”

Xin Xin asked with a smile, “And you? What are your plans?”

Mary said cheerfully, “I’m still the same as always; I’m getting married. Sister, you do well, and if you become rich, don’t forget me. I can only be a lazy bum.”

Xin Xin smiled, recalling how Mary had been utterly despondent just two months prior, saying she would never consider marriage as a goal in this life.

But good sisters were those who accepted that each other could wade in the same river twice. Just as she found it hard not to be ambitious at work, Mary found it hard not to have expectations for love.

“How’s Zhang Qiao? You’re getting married; he will be heartbroken to death.” Xin Xin did not forget to care about her old subordinate.

Mary said nonchalantly, “We’re still friends. He’s moved on.”

“Did he really come out of this, or was he lying to you?” Xin Xin did not believe it, thinking that Mary was just trying to comfort her conscience.

Mary sincerely advised Xin Xin, “Do not take a man’s love too seriously, really. Even at the most passionate moments, you must understand that you’re not that important. don’t always think that a man will feel sorry for you or suffer for you. Rest assured, they will say you’re the one they love most while they are already looking for someone else.”

Actually, when Mary said those words, Xin Xin had not yet realized that she would soon be the one to suffer.

She had known all along that Zheng Zaochuan was planning to start a new company, but it was not until that evening that she found out who he was partnering with.

Xin Xin got home from getting off work at eight o’clock. Having just arrived in a new city, and with no one she knew around, she inevitably felt lonely. Seeing the city lights coming on, she texted Zheng Zaochuan, “Not going home today either?”

Jiangcheng and Haining were too close, and most people who had business in both places had to travel between them. Today they were here, tomorrow they were there, and it was entirely possible for them to be in a long-distance relationship within a single day.

With no reply to her messages, Xin Xin idly cleaned her room, took a shower, and settled herself in her bedroom.

The phone rang; it was Zheng Zaochuan.

She smiled slightly and quickly answered the phone, “Finished?”

The voice on the other end was a very capable yet somewhat familiar female voice: “Zaochuan’s not going back today.”

Xin Xin paused for a moment, then subconsciously asked, “Who are you?”

A soft chuckle came from the other end. “Ms. Xin?”

Xin Xin quickly recognized the owner of the voice from the slightly mocking and arrogant tone at the end.

“Su Meiling,” Xin Xin feigned composure, “Sister Mei? You two are together?”

“It’s me. As you know, I’ve been busy lately starting a company with Zaochuan. He had a business dinner today, and he drank too much, so he will not be going home.” Su Meiling’s tone was calm but ambiguous, as if she was deliberately trying to provoke Xin Xin.

Xin Xin was pale; her fingers gripped the blanket tightly, her knuckles almost white. If anyone saw her at that moment, they would surely be startled by the way she seemed to be trying so hard to smile.

But from the phone call, her voice sounded perfectly normal. “Then please take care of him, Sister Mei. Please have him call back when he wakes up.”

Su Meiling seemed to groan softly, “You are too heavy, Zaochuan.” Then, she said perfunctorily, “Okay.”

After the call ended, Xin Xin felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

Before they were together, the scenarios she had fantasized about countless times actually happened to her. She gave a bitter smile; this was just human nature, after all. Even after mentally preparing herself a hundred times—thinking about how business dealings inevitably involve social obligations and how wealthy men always turn bad—when it actually happened, she was still overwhelmed with emotion.

No one knew better than her that this was Zheng Zaochuan, a man who never reported to his family, never had any sense of boundaries, and never handed over his own key to a woman.

If Xin Xin were to choose to press for answers, countless more nights like this would follow, filled with anxiety and rampant doubt.

If she chose to turn a blind eye and completely trust him, the seeds of doubt had already been sown.

No matter which path she took, being with Zheng Zaochuan was a path of despair.

Xin Xin had no choice but to trust him, regardless of whether Zheng Zaochuan returned home or told her who he was collaborating with. This suspicion would persist unless the person in question was not Zheng Zaochuan.

After thinking it through, Xin Xin mustered her courage, got up, drank a few glasses of wine until she was slightly tipsy, and quickly fell asleep.

She spent a sleepless night.

The next day, Xin Xin went to work as usual. Before leaving for work, she glanced at her phone; Zheng Zaochuan had not returned her call.

Fortunately, her work today was quite easy. Jiangcheng was hosting a financial forum, and many financial experts and scholars were attending. This was not originally her job, but Zhao Xi happened to be giving a presentation and asked Chen Ximi to help him take notes during the interview.

This was just a draft to appease the media.

Zhao Xi was generally only needed to filter out some worthless media outlets that just wanted to dig into people’s privacy; she did not need to answer other professional questions at all.

So Xin Xin was very relaxed; she could dress up beautifully and simply be a pretty vase.

The beautiful vase had barely stepped downstairs, and before it could even be used, she saw Zhao Xi’s car parked downstairs. Xin Xin, a severe motion sickness sufferer, had a very limited understanding of cars, classifying them as white, black, red, and blue.

Zhao Xi’s car was not anything special; it was just like most of the cars parked downstairs at the company. The reason Xin Xin recognized it at a glance was mainly because as soon as she came downstairs, Zhao Xi rolled down his car window and waved to her.

Xin Xin opened the passenger door and sat down without any hesitation. “Mr. Zhao, has the sun risen in the west? Thank you for picking me up.”

In the past, when they were out doing business, Xin Xin would usually pick up Zhao Xi. Getting Zhao Xi to pick them up and drop them off was no easy feat.

Zhao Xi did not refute but smiled gently and said, “It’s not that I did not want to pick you up before; it’s just that I was afraid you would get carsick, and you would get carsick if I drove there.”

Xin Xin temporarily put Zheng Zaochuan out of her mind and joked, “There’s nothing I can do about it. I’m destined to be a driver. People who get carsick don’t get carsick when they drive. It’s not that strange?”

Zhao Xi drove very steadily, keeping an eye on the road while teasing Xin Xin, saying, “Everything else is a matter of being blinded by those involved, but motion sickness is different; those involved are the most clear-headed.”

As always, Zhao Xi was considerate, driving steadily and constantly trying to keep Xin Xin focused. Only when they arrived at the venue did he breathe a sigh of relief, observe Xin Xin’s expression, and smile with satisfaction: “You aren’t too dizzy, are you? Looks like I performed well today.”

Even though Xin Xin knew his usual style, she was still very grateful. “I really dare not faint at your thoughtfulness; otherwise, I would be letting you down.”

Zhao Xi smiled softly, head down, and did not say anything. After the two got out of the car, he added abruptly, “It’s not like that with everyone.” With that, he strode into the venue.

This attitude was just like that night, when they were talking about serious matters, but Zhao Xi deliberately left a slightly ambiguous ending. It was as if he was testing Xin Xin, or as if he was flirting with her.

Xin Xin was not fooled and shrugged as she followed.

There were six people giving presentations today, and Zhao Xi was representing the securities firm. He was a natural at giving lectures, and Xin Xin, who had originally planned to slack off during the meeting, could not help but be drawn in when it was Zhao Xi’s turn and started listening attentively.

Zhao Xi analyzed the macroeconomic situation of Haining City and then discussed several well-known financing cases at the time, including the Hanhai project. His presentation was practical, vivid, and interesting, eliciting laughter from the audience several times and creating a very engaging atmosphere.

Xin Xin did not realize that she was smiling the whole time she was listening.

After Zhao Xi finished speaking, there were reports from analysts at banks and consulting firms, followed by a representative of the company.

Just then, Xin Xin felt a gaze seemingly fixed on her. She looked over instinctively and saw a smiling face.

It was this face that sent chills down Xin Xin’s spine, as if a venomous snake was staring at her from behind.

As if receiving Xin Xin’s gaze, the other person neither flinched nor avoided it but politely nodded at her, the corners of their lips curving into a wider smile.

Xin Xin’s mind went blank, and she mechanically turned her head forward. It was a face she did not recognize, but they had fought each other across time and space; it was Su Chengjie.

Humanity’s greatest fears came from the imagination.

Su Chengjie was indeed a terrifying figure, and he had indeed done things that instilled fear. But even Zheng Zaochuan, who had clashed with him many times, only considered him a ruthless and treacherous person.

However, because they had never actually interacted with this person, what Xin Xin felt was a sense of emptiness, terror, and boundless dread.

In her world, this person almost represented the entirety of the darkness of the capitalist world.