Our Glamorous Time - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“Tell me, did it hurt?”

His smiling, contemptuous voice pierced her ear like a sharp knife, grating with the noisy background. Rage rose up in her chest like a beast rampaging, throwing itself around her body, ready to break out.

But she refrained.

When the enemy gives you a blow, you can’t immediately counter-attack, instead, what should you do?

At least don’t let him think he succeeded in what he wanted: to hurt you.

Lin Qian held the cell phone, silent.

He smiled ear to ear as he sat in the energetic atmosphere.

He had to say that he was looking forward to Lin Qian’s reactions.

But for a moment, there was silence, even her breathing couldn’t be heard.

Suddenly, there was a woman’s chuckle.

So light, it was barely a sneer.

And with that light laugh, she hung up the phone.

Next to him, a woman wrapped herself around his arm and started to toast, leading Chen Zheng. He put down the phone, picked up the drink, feeling hatred, and yet also a dull insipidity.

He’d promised the ones he’d sent a reward for giving her a slap in the face, but one that was not too heavy, not really for hurting her. Just enough to give her a warning.

He’d been satisfied after waiting for an appropriate time to give her a phone call, and relished in the anticipation that she would cry, would be afraid, even denounce him angrily; all these responses he looked forward to.

But there was nothing.

Shit.

This woman always knew what kind of way would make him the most uncomfortable.

——

Lin Qian hung up the phone, and holding her knees, sat in a chair on the balcony. There was a burning pain on her face, and tears fell down. She looked at the dark night, gazing at the wandering stars, her mind filled with a lot of things.

When she’d come to Ai Da for her interview, she’d come into the thriving industrial complex full of expectations. For both this new job and herself, she’d been happy, full of hope.

She also thought back to the public relations crisis, when in the winter, Li Zhicheng behind her, they’d walked briskly across a puddle, and he’d looked her in the eye and told her that he was with security.

She also remembered Li Zhicheng’s investiture day, deliberately filled with lavish pomp; she thought of when she fought to get the Mingsheng tenders, after which he had determinedly said: if we get this project, we will be able to survive and fight again in the future. Everyone, including her, had been excited because of his words.

These days, they’d spent day and night to prepare proposals, everyone working like clockwork with red eyes; and when she came out from the project team, the two just graduated workers of the General Manager had looked at her expectantly, anxiously, as they asked: “Lin Zhuli, are chances great for us?” Back then she’d smiled and nodded: “great, very great.”

And even though it is said that an army fighting with righteous indignation is sure to win[1], they had been failed and used to wipe the floor[2].

Tears ran even harder from her eyes involuntarily, whimpers and sobs escaping her. Crying for a moment, she looked down again and saw the phone sitting in her lap.

Picked up the phone she cursed in it’s direction “You misbegotten demonic beast! Scum of the earth! Chen Zheng, you should go rot in hell!” She stopped to think for a moment, and still her rage hadn’t dissolved fully, so she continued: “Even if taking revenge is the last thing I do, I will[3]! If I don’t my name is not Lin Qian! ”

Finally, she felt her chest lighten a little so she left the phone down on the stool and then looked up, only to see a grim, tall, black figure standing in the balcony entrance. There was no expression on his face, he simply looked at her with eyes sharp and deep eyes, and she had no idea how long he’d been standing there.

Lin Qian was, at this point, a crying mess, so she quickly turned around and grabbed a few sheets of tissue and rubbed until she had a semblance of respectability. Only then did she look at him and asked: “Li Zong, how was it?”

She didn’t know when Li Zhicheng had taken his coat off, but he was just wearing a simple shirt and trousers. The sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, and held some traces of gray and black, as well as being slightly rumpled. He swept her figure with his eyes but did not answer immediately, instead going to sit beside her, eyes light.

Lin Qian saw this and sat down.

“Handled well.” His voice calm as water, “A few were, but most buckled. Police had arrived. Gao Lang was slightly wounded. ”

Lin Qian is relieved, but the mood was not easy.

The two people didn’t talk, just sat, looking ahead into the deep black of the night.

After a while, Lin Qian glanced at him from the corner of her eye, only to realize he had bowed his head, looking at the ground.

Lin Qian slightly embarrassed – the ground was littered with the snotty tissues she’d used to wipe her face … one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight… innumerable… Pretty damned spectacular.

“I’ll clean up in a moment.” She whispered.

By then he’d already lifted his head and gone back to looking into the distance.

“Lin Qian.” He said slowly, “I will remember your tears. ”

Lin Qian had just managed to collect herself, but this sentence had managed to bring back the tears to her eyes in a flash.

She suppressed them with great effort.

She turned her head, only to see his clear, eminent face.

Li Zhicheng, you mustn’t say things like this, it’ll make things more difficult.

Lin Qian adjusted her breathing so it appeared smooth and cool, but her voice was still somewhat hoarse: “Li Zong, I am sure, this thing was Si Meiqi secretly inciting us. But, since they did such a thing, there is nothing we can do. Those leaders, even if they were brought to the police station, nothing would be found.

But this gambit of theirs will allow people to open fire on us even though technically, they haven’t done us much harm. It will make our people more slack, will let people know the dire circumstances, and they might really begin to question management, question you. We have lost the Mingsheng project, this would cause instability, and this will undoubtedly prove to be a near-fatal blow.

However, this time, we do not concede. Li Zong, now everyone is looking at you. I think that now it’s our first priority to work as cohesively as possible–the first to promise to the Ai Da workers, to snap out of this business slump. We need to find ways for all employees to want to persist. Or … … we could design inspiring activities, necessarily be more sensational, so that we must be able to retain most of the people…… ”

At this point, she suddenly stopped. Because the Li Zhicheng who’d had been looking ahead, suddenly turned around and, quietly, but pointedly looked at her.

“…… Yes, what is it?” She tentatively asked.

He suddenly stretched out his hand and slyly grasped hers.

Lin Qian has not had time to react as his hand was covered her swollen face. Lin Qian’s heart jumped, clearly- he’d come to see how badly she was hurt?

Her face turned to the side, trying to avoid his hand and said: “It’s okay, there’s no pain……”

She had barely finished speaking when she saw that he had suddenly bent his face down towards her’s, his handsome face right before her eyes. Lin Qian was stunned as she looked directly into his deep black eyes that were like two bottomless black holes, as she saw her reflection inside a little … …

His masculine yet soft and slightly cool lips had accurately covered her’s.

Lin Qian was so dumbfounded she jolted into shock.

Suddenly, she realised what had happened. Because Li Zhicheng face was pressed to her’s, pressing her lips, his tongue noiselessly exploring; strong, but seemingly blind to any rules, lapping up and tangling with hers. His breath, distinctly cold and unique to him, invaded her territory.

Lin Qian and felt a surge of blood up to her head, and she nearly purred, but then tried to disentangle herself. She sat in a chair next to him, his hand resting on her side, other hand holding her face, his dark eyes in such close proximity to her that she was almost in his lap and couldn’t retreat.

Lin Qian only had one thought rampaging in her head, chaos incarnate in itself.

Li Zhicheng was kissing her, he was kissing her!

Is it because she was the first one after he’d been discharged from military duty to befriend him, and was also one of the few women next to him he could trust, who cheer him on, and so … … all this produced a feeling of dependence, and he found himself in love with her?!

She had barely thought of anything coherent when his hand slowly slackened away from her face, terminating the unexpected kiss.

“You don’t have to tell me these things.” The dark fathomless eyes still stared at her, “I know it all.”

Lin Qian didn’t utter a word.

At the same time, Li Zhicheng stood up, his face cold, expression calm, just like nothing had happened. Only his lips–and perhaps this was just some psychological effect she was under–looking at him, Lin Qian felt there was a rosy glow to her face. He thrust his hands into his pockets, then turned and walked toward the outside.

Lin Qian sat motionless, watching his back.

At the door, he suddenly halted his footsteps.

“Lin Qian.” He did not look up as he said, “Tomorrow is a new day. Everything will change for the better. ”

——

It was deep into the night.

At the window, in the sparse lights, the stars seemed ethereal. Not too far, the Ai Da Group compound stood in the darkness, seemingly having been restored to calmness.

Lin Qian lay lying on the bed, looking at the ceiling.

The pain on her face was not important. More importantly … … She reached out and touched her lips, hot, soft, why did this unfamiliar feeling still linger in the air?

She had completely cooled down. She thought it could be one of two possibilities.

First, Li Zhicheng was really interested to her.

However, they are not suitable. Not to mention that she’d always been disdainful of office romances, and so’d never thought that way about Li Zhicheng. He’s not her type.

Her type of man ought to be … … She closed her eyes and thought about it – more formidable, more mature, more intense. Even though she definitely had a flourishing career on her agenda, she wanted a man who could easily outdo and conquer her. That was her type.

Rather than that … … It turned out, she’d conquered Li Zhicheng?

Thinking of Li Zhicheng, her feelings for him were……

Lin Qian flashed back to the memory of him kissing her, his cool eyes, straight nose, slightly high cheekbones, a faint clear thread hanging between his reddened lips and hers……

She shivered and her heartbeat seemed to have begun picking up speed again.

Well, with so many days of working together, he’d often impressed her with his very charming personality. He was pure and genuine, and that had often touched her

But that should not equate to love.

Lin Qian was very worried. This kiss was thoroughly embarrassing to the two people involved. If he really pursued her, she was bound to refuse. As she thought so, her mind was once again disturbed.

Because he’s not as outrageous as Chen Zheng; he was neither a player nor an immature college frat boy. He was so honest, with his integrity and determination of a soldier … … Alas, what kind of woman could bear to let such a man down?

Or was there another possibility?

Lin Qian picked up a mirror and looked at her own face.

After all, it’s common knowledge that the love between men and women is often vulnerable to their environment and proximity.

Li Zhicheng is a healthy young man without a girlfriend, and hence with pent-up feelings. And tonight was special – his group had been under fire, and she’d cried in front of him. When Li Zhicheng must’ve seen her, his empathy and pity for her must’ve been great, and in his clouded judgement he’d kissed her? Could it not be said that he was trying to emotionally comfort her?

But … … She looked at the mirror and slight swelling of her face, red eyes and a nose, and her messy hair.

This face … … It just doesn’t seem like the type to be pitied and protected, to be able to bring about a man’s ardour…

——

As Lin Qian had predicted, after the incident, Ai Da looked towards Li Zhicheng for guidance now more than ever.

The person in the midst of the turmoil, however, was far more at peace tonight than the world expected him to be.

Low and deep into the night, he was back still in his Office, sitting on the terrace in the cane chair, a cup of hot tea in hand, a lone figure watching over Ai Da.

By the time Gu Yanzhi had handled matters and returned, it was past 11pm. He was somewhat annoyed as he stepped on the terrace and sat down beside Li Zhicheng.

“That young master Chen Zheng, suddenly using this kind of move!” He ranted, ” The police said, several leaders of the riot are extremely well-off, and can afford to go into hiding for months. However, these groups are randomly insisting they hate Ai Da, for no reason whatsoever.”

“En.” Li Zhicheng looked coolly and nodded.

Gu Yanzhi was silent for a moment, then suddenly reached out and patted his shoulder: “I believe in you.”

Li Zhicheng remained unmoving.

Gu Yanzhi says: “Lin Qian was slapped on the face, is she OK? ”

Li Zhicheng raised his brows, answer: “Face’s swollen.”

Gu Yanzhi laughed lightly, obliquely glance at him as he said: “You really care about her.”

Li Zhicheng didn’t respond. However, after a moment he turned to look at the other man and said: “The business world or the battlefield, both are the same. There’re cannibalistic parties on both areas, each such that no rivals are tolerated.”

Gu Yanzhi was stunned for a moment; this man, who had recently been discharged from the army, had stated something very true. Nodded and replied: “I know this too, what’s the matter?”

Li Zhicheng lightly replied: “Nothing.” And he turned his head back into the distance wordlessly.

Indeed, nothing.

He simply thought of a shrewd woman, who, for some reason, showed her sincere heart to him. Just like the dim night sky studded with glittering stars- pure and limpid, exquisite[4].

—

Lin Qian was to rest at home for a day.

Actually, Li Zhicheng had given her direct instructions to let her rest for two days. But could Lin Qian rest? The next morning, as soon as the handprint left her face, she left immediately to the human resources department.

As she returned to the top floor and looked at the President’s door, her heart beat fast. She came closer, only to find that Li Zhicheng was not in it, and felt relieved for no good reason.

She had just sat down when the phone rang.

It was General Manager Yang Xiru, who now regarded her own as part of his own inner circle. Yang Xiru initially concerned about her health, and after briefly enquiring about her quickly changed the topic and said: “Lin Qian, did you know? Ming Sheng didn’t even bid, the reason we’re out of the running is because we have a spy in our midst.”

Lin Qian softly quiestioned: “Spies?”

Yang Xiru went on: “Mmhmm. Ming sheng heard leaked info on us, and decided that since Si Meiqi were more established than us, they would be better. Even Kang Zong’s General Secretary telephoned Li Zong, said Kang always had high hopes for us, but because of this matter he was still not happy…… ”

Lin Qian interrupts her: “How do you know these things?”

Yang Xiru hesitated: “Heard it yesterday … … Everyone else is talking about it.”

“Oh.” Lin Qian answered, “Then who’s the spy?”

“I heard it was a technician called Ge Songzhi, and two members of the project team.” Yang Xiru went on, “This morning police took him away. It’s said they have found some evidence from surveillance video and his mail.”

After she hung up the phone, Lin Qian sat there thinking.

Hearing about all this felt strange. She didn’t think there’d be a mole on the inside.

She remembered the last crisis public relations project group, she’d shadowed Li Zhicheng those nights in the corridor, was it really Ge Songzhi they were looking for? He’d looked like such an honest man, it if he was really Si Meiqi’s corporate spy, and had always remained at their side…  just the thought made her terrified.

But … … If she wasn’t guessing wrong, the info the spy had gotten hold of had been purposely leaked by Gu Yanzhi. Wasn’t that what Li Zhicheng had been alluding to yesterday? She smiled- and now that everyone was abuzz with excitement, the public furore had managed to prod the spies out…

She was just thinking this when the phone rang again .

This time it was a call from the Finance Dept.: “Lin Zhuli, the bank has credited 30 million from us, please tell Li Zong at the first convenience.”

Lin Qian asked: “30 million?”

Personnel of the Department of finance replied in low voice: “Yeah, Li Zong’s total assets are, unfortunately, mortgaged to the Bank as part of the loan to finance second production base.”

She hung up the phone, her mood growing heavy.

She didn’t come to work for one day, and she’s attacked by dark messages one after another.

So … … Li Zhicheng has now started offering up the land as collateral? They’d been at the edge of the bottomless pit, and suddenly they’d already started falling?

Just then, a familiar tall figure came in from the outside. He was in a crisp suit, his handsome face of silent, hand holding a stack of folders, seeming to be just coming out after a meeting.

Lin Qian immediately stood up, her eyes averted away from his face, staring at his suit buttons: “Good morning Li Zong.”

“En.” His voice was steady, “Lin Qian, come in.[5]”

Lin Qian jump quickly.

Li Zhicheng walked to the sofa and sat down, eyes looking up at her: “Face?”

“Better. Thank you boss for being concerned.” Lin Qian still avoided looking at his eyes, her button-staring still continuing, but she still noticed that that pair of clear and compelling eyes had landed on her face.

“Just got off the phone with the Department of Finance, they said that 30 million have been to the account.” Lin Qian said.

“En.” He said, “Distribute the first paycheques of the month, leave the others on the account.”

“Yes.”

He was as usual, simply making executive decisions of other things: meetings, follow-up reports, and even the spy matter … … Lin Qian was also the same, with head down, jotting down things on pen and paper. Taking notes upon notes, it was suddenlya little boring. She secretly raised her eyes quickly and glanced at him quickly, before looking down again.

Somehow he had kissed her, but now it was like nothing had happened, he gave not a word of explanation. What does that mean? Did the kiss mean nothing to him?

As she quietly ranted in her heart, she saw him suddenly get up.

Lin Qian instinctively matched his gaze. He looked at her with his deep eyes, a thoughtful look on his face. The same face…… as the night he’d kissed her!

“Lin Qian.” He nearly whispered her name.

Lin Qian heart thumped—it was finally here!

She hung her head, avoiding his eyes as her face instantly heated up.

To reject him … …

Her heartbeat thundered, and was only overpowered by his deep steady voice. The voice seemed to contain a hint of a smile, a trace of amusement… but she couldn’t tell if it was definitely there or not.

“I have a plan.” He said measuredly, “I would like to launch a flanking counterattack on Si Meiqi.”