Li Yifei walked to the head of the conference table, paused, pulled out the chair, then turned to Qian Fei and invited her, "How could I possibly sit here? It's much more appropriate for President Qian to take this seat! I'm just here to observe—the overall direction should still be led by President Qian!"
Qian Fei looked at Li Yifei, wishing she could strangle him in her mind.
She gave him a smile that others would interpret as polite but only he could recognize as forced, saying, "Young Director Li, no need to be modest. 'Leading the overall direction' is too grand—after all, we're all here to support your work!"
Li Yifei remained standing beside her, smiling gracefully, looking as handsome as a model.
Everyone around them watched the exchange.
Qian Fei now wished she could strangle herself to end it all.
Finally, under the encouragement (or rather, nudging) of her colleagues, she reluctantly took the seat at the head of the table.
Li Yifei then sat in the spot she had just vacated. After greeting his former colleagues with a cheerful "Long time no see, everyone’s been working hard," he addressed the entire room warmly before straightening his expression and saying, "Actually, I used to work in investment banking too, but due to my father's declining health, I recently canceled my sponsor representative qualification to come back and help. To avoid unnecessary complications, I’ll remain an observer for this project. I won’t take an official position in the group for now, and group affairs will still be decided in Vice President Liao’s name."
Then he handed the floor to Qian Fei.
Drawing from her deeper understanding of the group’s materials, Qian Fei identified several critical issues with the project from a more nuanced perspective. She raised these points one by one for discussion with the team.
But as each issue was debated, it inevitably turned into a back-and-forth between her and Li Yifei, each offering solutions.
Their exchanges were perfectly timed, their tacit understanding so seamless it was as if their thoughts originated from the same mind.
Two of Qian Fei’s colleagues whispered to each other, "Listening to these two 'executives' discuss problems is such a delight! Every sentence is pure substance!"
"Right? Their thought processes are freakishly in sync!"
What was supposed to be a group meeting ultimately became their duet. An hour and a half later, under the admiring gazes of everyone, Li Yifei thanked them all with a smile and adjourned the meeting.
As Qian Fei stood up to leave, Li Yifei swiftly rose and blocked her path, beaming as he said, "President Qian, if it’s convenient, could I trouble you to step into my office for a quick chat?"
Their colleagues nearby waggled their eyebrows suggestively.
Qian Fei stared at him impassively. "Then I’ll trouble Young Director Li to lead the way."
●︶3︶●
In Li Yifei’s office, Qian Fei sat in the boss chair with her legs crossed and arms folded, while Li Yifei sat across from her on the guest sofa.
Qian Fei looked down at him like a queen. "Well then, Young Director Li, what did you want to discuss?"
Li Yifei cleared his throat. "Actually, it’s nothing major. I just wanted to briefly explain the historical context behind why I hid my father’s identity from you."
Qian Fei didn’t respond, her gaze shifting to the window as she stared intently at the skyscraper opposite.
After waiting in vain for her to look back, Li Yifei finally called out, "Jinjin?"Qian Fei gazed out the window, her tone flat. "During work hours, address me as President Qian."
Li Yifei sucked in a breath through his teeth. "Fine! President Qian? President Qian, could you snap out of it? President Qian, how about you listen to some historical context first?"
Qian Fei continued staring out the window before finally responding with an indifferent "Hmm. Go on."
Seeing her deliberately affected and haughty demeanor, Li Yifei suddenly realized just how annoying he himself used to be.
Taking a deep breath, he began, "Here's the thing. My old man suddenly found out I've taken a liking to another woman. And since this woman hasn't studied abroad, he thinks my taste in women keeps getting worse—that this one isn't even as good as the last, who at least had studied overseas..."
Qian Fei abruptly turned her head to glare at him, cutting him off. "This 'one' you're talking about—that wouldn't be me, would it?"
Li Yifei summoned his most handsome, charming expression. "...Congratulations, you guessed right! It's you!"
Qian Fei spat out a contemptuous "Pah!" "What's so great about going abroad? Are all returnees automatically superior? You think foreigners are so impressive? Have them come take China's CET-4 and CET-6 exams—they probably couldn't even score as high as me!"
Li Yifei nodded vigorously in agreement. "Exactly, exactly!"
"We're just privileged kids with some family money to burn, that's all! If it weren't for having nowhere else to spend it, we wouldn't have gone abroad either! In terms of pure academic ability, I'm sure this returnee is no match for you, my little homegrown turtle!"
Qian Fei looked at his shameless face and listened to his brazen words, her liver aching with the urge to flip the table and smash it over his head. She forcibly redirected her gaze out the window again.
"Continue!" she snapped.
Li Yifei cleared his throat again. "So the old man thinks you're not good enough, right? I argued with him, said you're absolutely capable, more capable than even China Mobile's 'Easy Own' service! Then he made a deal with me—I couldn't tell you who I really am or help you in any way. If you could independently complete our company's restructuring plan, he'd acknowledge your competence!"
Qian Fei snorted and turned back to face him. "So now he doesn't look down on me anymore?"
Li Yifei beamed with his most devastatingly handsome, pants-dropping smile and nodded.
Qian Fei arched an eyebrow—completely unaware she was mirroring Li Yifei's signature expression. "Well now it's my turn to be picky!" She rose from her executive chair with a sharp "snap," strode around the desk, and planted herself before Li Yifei, hands thrust in her suit pants pockets.
Her high heels kept the trouser creases razor-straight, accentuating her long, sleek, and undeniably sexy legs.
"Young Master Li," Qian Fei looked down imperiously at him seated on the sofa, "I now find your English name displeasing to the ear—so displeasing that I no longer wish to play nicely with you! When I eventually find it acceptable, I'll be sure to notify you!"
With that, she turned toward the door.
Li Yifei nearly choked. This was the first time he'd heard of someone refusing to associate over an unsatisfactory English name! This was clearly making trouble for trouble's sake...
He hastily stood from the sofa, his long legs intercepting Qian Fei as he grabbed the doorknob to block her exit. "That's easily fixed! I'll just change my English name! Jinjin, I'll immediately change to one you don't despise, and we can make up, okay?"
Qian Fei tilted her chin up, her face the picture of arrogance. "Address me as President Qian!"Li Yifei sucked in a sharp breath and pleaded, "Director Qian, can we make up? I'll change my English name right now!"
Qian Fei stiffened her neck stubbornly. "Won't help. No matter what name you pick, I'll still think it sounds awful!"
Li Yifei raised an eyebrow. "That can't be! I've already decided to change it to HowTeen! Just say it out loud once bravely, and you'll instantly break the curse of it sounding bad. You've got to believe me!"
After a stunned pause, Qian Fei's expression turned vicious. "Get lost! Don't play word games with me! That trick won't work on me!"
As she pried Li Yifei's hand off the doorknob, he struggled and asked, "Then tell me, what would make you think my English name sounds good?"
Qian Fei opened the door and walked out without looking back, calling over her shoulder, "When I do something without telling you first too!"
●︶3︶●
Before leaving work that evening, Qian Fei received a call from the company's vice president informing her she needed to attend a meeting at Gui Lili's company the next day to follow up on the IPO progress.
Hanging up, she addressed Li Yifei—who was sticking to her like a shadow—without turning around: "Young Master Li, requesting leave tomorrow. Got a meeting at your ex-girlfriend's 'study abroad' company, so I won't be coming here."
Li Yifei caught up to walk beside her. "Underwriter Qian, what time does the meeting end tomorrow? Let me pick you up! I'll drive my dad's new Lamborghini—you can find a razor blade to scratch it with along the way to vent your anger!"
Qian Fei stopped and looked up. "Fine, pick me up in that car then." After a pause, she added, "Don't forget to bring a sharp razor blade."
With that, she strode past him triumphantly.
Watching her swaying figure walk away, Li Yifei suddenly realized the most heartbreaking irony in life was how the river of fortune flows—thirty years east, thirty years west.
Back then, it was him walking proudly ahead while the ever-saintly her trotted along behind.
But now... just thinking about it brought tears. The tables had completely turned...
●︶3︶●
The next day, Qian Fei spent the entire day in meetings at Gui Lili's company.
When Gui Lili learned Qian Fei had become the project lead overseeing their IPO, her expression looked like she'd just swallowed a lightbulb.
After the meetings, feeling exhausted, Qian Fei shook hands with Chairman Niu—Gui Lili's husband—said goodbye, and left the conference room.
No sooner had she stepped out than she heard Gui Lili's saccharine voice calling from behind: "Qian Fei, wait! Let me walk you out!"
Qian Fei pretended not to hear and kept walking. She couldn't stand this woman's fake demeanor and wanted nothing to do with her "hospitality."
But Gui Lili kept chirping like an endless recording: "Qian Fei Qian Fei, wait wait! Let me walk you out walk you out!"
The incessant calls made Qian Fei's vision blur slightly.
She stopped and turned with a stiff, practiced smile. "Vice President Gui, no need. I can find my way out."
Gui Lili scurried over and latched onto her arm with alarming intimacy. "Nonsense! I can't let you go alone!"
Qian Fei stared at her trapped arm, her cheek twitching.
Is this seeing someone out? This is basically kidnapping...To the outside world, Gui Lili appeared to be intimately close to Qian Fei, but to Qian Fei herself, it felt more like an awkward, forced proximity as Gui Lili dragged her toward the elevator.
When the elevator arrived, Gui Lili smiled sweetly at the others and said, “Would you mind waiting for the next one? I’d like to see my friend off alone!”
The others immediately obliged, stepping aside to let the boss’s wife have the elevator.
The moment the doors closed, Gui Lili dropped Qian Fei’s arm like a hot potato, her smile vanishing as if she had just performed a face-changing act.
Qian Fei couldn’t help but glance up at the security camera overhead.
She really wanted to tell Gui Lili: Lady, people can still see you here—at least commit to the act all the way!
Half a minute later, the elevator dinged as it reached the first floor. Gui Lili strode out first, chin held high.
Once they stepped outside the building, Gui Lili stopped, turned around, and crossed her arms, fixing Qian Fei with an accusatory glare. “I heard from your coworkers that you and Li Yifei are together now?”
Qian Fei scoffed. “Do I need to report my relationship status to you?” Spotting a shiny new Lamborghini parked nearby, she turned back to Gui Lili. “If this is all you wanted to talk about, then sorry, but I’m not obligated to entertain you. I’m leaving.” She turned and walked toward the flashy sports car.
Gui Lili froze for a moment, thrown off. This cold, unyielding version of Qian Fei didn’t match the pushover she remembered.
As Qian Fei was about to walk away, Gui Lili snapped out of it and blurted, “Qian Fei, you’re such a hypocrite! I always said you had a thing for Li Yifei, and you just refused to admit it!”
Qian Fei stopped in her tracks. She sighed. She had planned to ignore this brainless, princess-complex drama queen—just like before, letting her say whatever she wanted and enduring it until it passed. But today, for some reason, she didn’t feel like enduring it anymore.
She turned and walked back to Gui Lili, tilting her chin up with a smile. “That’s right. I do like him— a lot , in fact. So what? Does that bother you?”
Gui Lili’s lips trembled. She stiffened her neck and retorted, “I always thought there was something off about how Li Yifei and I broke up! We fought all the time back then—who knows if you were stirring the pot behind my back? If it weren’t for you, I might not have ended up with someone else!”
Qian Fei nearly burst out laughing. She looked past Gui Lili and called out, “Chairman Niu!”
Gui Lili’s face instantly turned ghostly pale as she spun around in horror.
When she realized there was no one behind her—that Qian Fei had tricked her—she whipped back around, furious. “Qian Fei, you’re despicable!”
Qian Fei chuckled. “Oh, Mrs. Niu, why do you do this to yourself? With your track record, still clinging to this ‘unfinished business with an ex’ act—isn’t it just torturing yourself? Honestly, you’ve been married for two years now. Maybe focus on having a kid instead. Otherwise, that ‘first wife’ seat is just a revolving door—someone else will take it after you’re done. Just some friendly advice—take it to heart, alright?”Gui Lili let out a cold laugh. "Forget it, on second thought, Li Yifei isn't that great anyway. Consider him a gift to you! May you work hard and strive to buy a big house, drive luxury cars, and live in a grand villa before retirement!"
Qian Fei burst out laughing. "Gui Lili, are you serious? You still don't know who Li Yifei's father is? Let me tell you—that middle-aged man in sportswear you saw back then is named Li Qiansheng. Yes, the Qiansheng from Qiansheng Group!" She paused, watching Gui Lili's face turn ashen, and asked, "Now, do you think we still need to work hard?"
Gui Lili lifted her chin, her face pale as she forced a laugh. "Then you won’t be able to act high and mighty for long! Do you really think someone of his family background and temperament would stay devoted to someone like you for life? If you think that, Qian Fei, you’re dead wrong! Li Yifei isn’t the loyal type! I’m only saying this for your own good! Oh, and even if you have his child, you might not hold onto the position of his official wife!"
Qian Fei smiled at her sweetly. "That can't be, right? You’re talking about the old Li Yifei. The current Li Yifei isn’t like that—he’s head over heels in love with me!"
Gui Lili laughed mockingly. "Anyone can brag!"
Just as she finished speaking, a voice as pleasant as a melody chimed in, "She’s not bragging. I am indeed head over heels in love with her. Absolutely correct."
Gui Lili’s face twisted in disgust as if she’d accidentally swallowed something vile when she saw the man who had somehow appeared behind Qian Fei.
Qian Fei turned around to see Li Yifei grinning at her with his pearly whites.
●︶3︶●
Once in the car, Li Yifei handed Qian Fei a small knife. "The sharpest knife in our house. Feel free to scrape whatever you want!"
Qian Fei asked, "What if your dad asks who did the scraping?"
Li Yifei glanced at Gui Lili, who was still standing nearby clutching her chest and panting heavily. "Just say it was her."
Qian Fei couldn’t keep a straight face any longer and burst out laughing. "You’re absolutely ruthless!"
Li Yifei pulled out in a ridiculously flashy arc. Through the rearview mirror, Qian Fei could practically feel the waves of resentment and jealousy radiating from Gui Lili’s eyes.
She clicked her tongue while watching the reflection. "When someone acts this foolish, science can’t even explain why. Take your ‘studied abroad’ ex-girlfriend—she had a perfectly good, naive rich heir right there, yet she went and married some overweight uncle who still hasn’t fathered a child after two years. Now that she finally knows the truth, she’ll probably go home and cry herself to death while biting her bedsheet!"
Li Yifei tapped the steering wheel. "Let her cry. What’s it to me?" He glanced at Qian Fei. "Qian Baodai, I want to seriously ask you a few questions!"
Qian Fei hummed. "Qian Baodai is in a good mood right now. Go ahead!"
Li Yifei said, "Remember, for these questions, you only need to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ No extra words. First question—did you just admit to Gui Lili that you like me, and that you like me a whole lot?"
Qian Fei turned to him. "No!"
Li Yifei’s foot slipped on the accelerator, causing the car to lurch.He turned his head, glaring. "How is it not? I heard it clearly!"
Qian Fei said, "All I said was 'unbelievable'!"
Li Yifei cursed, "Damn! Fine, you win! Let me rephrase—did you tell Gui Lili that you like me so much it's unbelievable?"
Qian Fei answered, "Yes!"
Li Yifei pressed on, "Then tell me, if you like someone, shouldn't you like everything about them?"
Qian Fei replied, "Yes."
Li Yifei continued, "And by 'everything,' doesn’t that include their English name?"
Qian Fei answered firmly, "No."
In his agitation, Li Yifei swerved the car into an S-shape. "How is it not?!"
Qian Fei chuckled. "Because people like me who’ve never been abroad don’t have English names, so 'everything' about us naturally doesn’t include one!"
Li Yifei felt like kneeling in defeat.
He couldn’t understand how someone as brilliant as him had managed to talk himself into a corner.
●︶3︶●
In the following days, the restructuring project progressed steadily.
Later on, Wang Ruohai was discharged from the hospital and returned to the company. From Liao Shiyu, he learned who Qian Fei’s current boyfriend really was.
After that, he never sought out Qian Fei outside work hours again.
The project advanced according to plan. But just as success seemed within reach, the situation took a sudden turn for the worse—the group encountered unexpected complications.
Someone had schemed to frame Qiansheng. First, they spread rumors to the media, then filed a report with the commerce bureau, claiming that the fabrics used by Qiansheng Group’s large-scale clothing subsidiary were substandard, accusing the company of passing off inferior products as premium and harming consumer interests. During an unannounced inspection by the authorities, problematic fabrics were indeed discovered. Later, Li Yifei traced the source of these fabrics and found that an employee from a long-term supplier was behind it—coincidentally, someone surnamed Gui.
Li Yifei was well-versed in the financial dealings of Gui Lili’s husband’s company. He knew exactly where the irregularities lay—one report from him, and that company could forget about going public. He decided to settle matters at hand first, then have a talk with Chairman Niu, presenting him with a choice: his troublesome wife or the company’s IPO.
The incident was sensationalized by certain media outlets, severely damaging Qiansheng Group’s reputation and causing a sharp drop in the listed company’s stock price.
Li Yifei, along with Deputy Liao, major shareholders, and senior executives, held three days of emergency meetings to devise crisis management strategies and find a way out of the predicament.
Since the issue involved the stock price of the listed company, Li Yifei invited Qian Fei and the project team to attend the meetings. Though they were outsiders and couldn’t contribute directly, their oversight was crucial for listed company matters.
When discussions reached a deadlock, Deputy Liao proposed an idea.
"Recently, a celebrity named Jin Tian has been extremely popular, especially among young people. Our clothing line primarily targets that demographic. If we could get her to endorse us, it might just solve this problem!"Everyone thought the proposal was feasible. However, Liao Shiyu raised a concern: "But right now, the clothing company's reputation is terrible. Even though we've done crisis management, the public still believes we're engaged in unethical business practices. The plan is good, but I'm worried this popular actress might not agree. If she's accused of accepting a small endorsement fee to collaborate with us in shady dealings, the loss would far outweigh the gain for her!"
Vice President Liao said, "But I heard Chengcheng mention before that Jintian and Yifei have some connection." He turned to Li Yifei and asked, "Yifei, why don't you talk to her? Maybe this could work out!"
Li Yifei turned his head to look at Qian Fei.
Qian Fei nodded at him, "Go ahead, this is important business."
●︶3︶●
Jintian readily agreed to Li Yifei's request, willing to endorse the clothing company of Qiansheng Group, and promised to donate the entire endorsement fee to build elementary schools in western mountain villages.
Qian Fei thought this was a smart girl—she instantly silenced those who might accuse her of doing anything for money while also crafting a pure and kind-hearted image for herself.
Of course, she also understood that if it weren't for Li Yifei, Jintian wouldn’t have taken on this unpaid endorsement. If she had endorsed another clothing brand, she wouldn’t have needed to donate her earnings.
On the day Jintian came to Qiansheng to sign the contract, she cornered Qian Fei outside the restroom. Tipping her chin up, she asked, "Do you know why I agreed?"
Qian Fei smiled warmly. "If I said I didn’t want to know, I’d be afraid of leaving you frustrated."
Jintian’s expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly flashed a dazzling smile. "It doesn’t matter whether you want to know or not—I just want to tell you that I did this to make Li Yifei owe me! When a man owes a woman, he’ll always remember her in his heart, never able to forget!" She looked at Qian Fei, a trace of resentment flickering in her eyes. "I genuinely liked him, but then you showed up. If it weren’t for you, we might have ended up together! But it’s fine—even if he’s with you now, there’ll always be a corner of his heart that remembers me!"
Qian Fei lowered her eyelids and chuckled.
Then she raised her gaze, meeting Jintian’s eyes. "He’ll always leave some space in his heart for others. It’s fine—I’m not as greedy as you think."
With that, she breezed past Jintian and walked toward the office.
Jintian frowned as she watched her retreating figure.
The girl’s aura seemed completely different from before. No matter how aggressively she had acted, it hadn’t seemed to faze her. She had said everything she wanted to say, yet why didn’t she feel even a hint of triumph? Sighing, she stepped into the restroom.
From the shadows of the adjacent men’s restroom, Li Yifei quietly emerged.
●︶3︶●
Jintian’s endorsement resolved Qiansheng’s crisis.
Qian Fei silently marveled at how much someone could change in just a short time. Back then, this girl had only appeared on a few obscure billboards, but now she wielded immense influence among young people. Using that influence, she had helped reverse a company’s decline and impending failure in record time.
The negative impact on the clothing company gradually faded, and its reputation was restored. The listed company’s stock price stabilized, and the restructuring plan continued smoothly.
Everyone in the group sang Jintian’s praises—her limelight eclipsed even that of the beautiful Qian Baodai.
At the clothing company’s celebration banquet, Li Yifei raised a toast to Vice President Liao, thanking him for suggesting the idea of approaching Jintian and resolving the group’s commercial crisis.
But Vice President Liao just smiled and said, "I can’t take credit for this! Actually, the idea came from Qian Baodai. Did you really think someone my age would even know who Jintian is?"Li Yifei suddenly felt a fire burning inside him.
He found Qian Fei in the corner, scrolling through financial news on her phone, and sat down beside her. Nudging her with his elbow, he said, "I overheard what you and Jin Tian said outside the bathroom the other day."
Qian Fei looked up at him. "Oh," she replied before lowering her head to continue reading her phone. But she didn’t swipe to the next page for a long time.
Li Yifei said, "Honestly, Jin Tian is quite skilled at playing her little games—she really knows how to manipulate a man’s psychology. But now I realize, compared to you, she’s just a novice!" He draped his arm over her shoulder, shaking her playfully. "Tell me, did you study psychology? I thought I’d have to keep remembering how she helped me, just like she said. But today, when Uncle Liao told me it was actually your idea to involve Jin Tian, my heart was suddenly overwhelmed with thoughts of you! How did you get so cunning?"
Qian Fei looked up and smiled at him. "If I didn’t get a little cunning, I was afraid your heart would always belong to someone else."
Li Yifei shook her again, grinning. "Qian Baodai, how about coming to my place tomorrow? Meet my old man, help me tick him off and knock him down a peg!"
Qian Fei raised an eyebrow. "Sure! Let’s go! Not going would make me look scared! Just make sure your dad takes some heart pills beforehand!"
●︶3︶●
The next day, Li Yifei really did bring Qian Fei to his home.
Before entering, Li Yifei asked, "Jinjin, scared?"
Qian Fei stared at him expressionlessly. "Until I say your English name sounds nice, please call me Director Qian or Qian Baodai."
Li Yifei waved his hand. "Damn! This isn’t over yet? Fine, Qian Baodai, I shouldn’t have asked. I can see you’re not scared at all!"
He led Qian Fei inside and headed straight for the study.
Standing outside the study, he knocked and called out, "Old man, come out and greet the guest!"
A deep voice responded from inside. "Brat, get in here."
Li Yifei pushed the door open with a grin, pulling Qian Fei in with him.
Qian Fei saw a dignified middle-aged man sitting at the desk, his sharp eyes gleaming as if they could see right through a person.
Li Yifei pointed at the man and said to Qian Fei, "This is Li Qiansheng. When I’m in a good mood, he’s my dad. When I’m in an average mood, he’s just an old man who looks like me. Qian Baodai, don’t be nervous—let me tell you, he just looks tough. He’s actually all bark and no bite."
Before he could continue, Li Qiansheng cut him off.
"Get out," Li Qiansheng said bluntly. "Close the door behind you. I want to speak with Qian Fei alone."
Li Yifei glanced at Qian Fei. "You okay with this?"
Qian Fei nodded. "Sure, I think it’ll be fine. Don’t worry, I’ll try not to push him to the point where he needs medication. Go on."
Li Yifei turned back to Li Qiansheng. "Listen, don’t pull any of those cheesy drama moves, like handing her a check, or I’ll walk out for real this time—change my surname and cut all ties!"
Li Qiansheng replied coldly, "Do you think I have that kind of spare cash now?"Li Yifei thought about the group's restructuring and felt a pang of exhaustion. They had already spent a considerable amount to resolve the crisis with the clothing company, and now, after all the calculations, the group's available cash flow wasn’t looking too healthy.
"Yeah, right. Our books are a mess right now!"
Li Qiansheng curled his lips slightly, his face cold and stern as he uttered five words: "Get the hell out!"
Qian Fei stared at that icy expression, then heard the thick Northeastern accent that clashed so starkly with it. She felt like she was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
She wondered if Li Yifei’s dad was, like Jun Cheng’s mom, also a Northeasterner…
●︶3︶●
Li Yifei left—and even closed the door behind him.
Li Qiansheng pointed to the chair opposite him and said to Qian Fei, "Sit."
Qian Fei sat down without hesitation.
Li Qiansheng looked at her, his eyes sharp and direct. "If it weren’t for these two crises the group is facing right now, I would never have agreed to him dating someone from such a mismatched background."
Qian Fei let out a dry laugh. "If I hadn’t heard you have a bit of a heart condition, I would’ve definitely fired back with some sharp words."
Li Qiansheng raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"
Qian Fei replied, "Such as—Fan Bingbing once said, 'I don’t marry into wealth because I am wealth!' Or, for example, I’m already a sponsor representative—after a few successful projects, I’ll be rich too. The money I earn is enough for me and my parents to live comfortably, even to the point of pouring out a bowl of soy milk every morning just for fun! Or, for instance, what state is your family in right now? With the little cash left in your accounts, you still have the energy to worry about someone coveting your wealth? Honestly, you should focus less on that and more on recovering. The money in your accounts isn’t even worth scheming over!"
Li Qiansheng’s lips twitched into a faint smile. "You’ve got some personality." After a pause, his smile faded as he asked, "If I were to write you a check right now—one that could be cashed once the group’s finances recover—what would you do?"
Without hesitation, Qian Fei answered, "What kind of question is that? Obviously, I’d pocket it and leave!"
Li Qiansheng frowned. "You wouldn’t throw it back in my face?"
Qian Fei laughed. "You’ve watched too many dramas, haven’t you? Why would I have a grudge against money?"
Li Qiansheng leaned back in his chair, interlacing his fingers over his stomach, his gaze piercing. "Between money and my son, which do you love more?"
Qian Fei straightened up. "I think the better question is—if money and your son both fell into a river, which one would I save?"
Li Qiansheng asked, "Which one would you save?"
Without missing a beat, Qian Fei said, "Definitely the money! Fine, I admit it—you really went and asked. But what’s the point? Your son’s an excellent swimmer! I heard his dad taught him personally when he was little!"
Li Qiansheng burst into laughter.
●︶3︶●
The entire afternoon, Li Yifei sat outside the study with a chair, waiting.
At first, the study was quiet. Then, he began to hear occasional laughter.
The terrifying part? It wasn’t Qian Fei’s laughter—it was his father’s.
As time passed, his father’s laughter grew more frequent and hearty.
It seemed his future daughter-in-law had a knack for hitting all the right spots in his father’s otherwise aloof sense of humor.Hearing his father's laughter, he was utterly terrified. His Jinjin was really becoming something else now—not only could she handle the kitchen and the living room with ease, manage projects and play the rogue, but now she could even take on the *oss of his family!
He felt like he was about to lose his grip on her!
Anxiously, he quickly pulled out his phone and checked his reflection.
Seeing that his face on the screen was still devastatingly handsome, he finally felt a little more at ease.
●︶3︶●
A month later, the restructuring of the listed subsidiary under Qiansheng Group was successfully completed. The stock price stabilized, and the entire group flourished with prosperity.
At the celebratory banquet, the big boss, Li Qiansheng, made a personal appearance.
After accepting congratulations from all directions, Li Qiansheng pushed Li Yifei into the spotlight, officially announcing that he would soon take over most of his responsibilities within the group. While Li Yifei was surrounded by well-wishers and unable to break free, Li Qiansheng called Qian Fei to his side and said to her, "Now that the group is running smoothly, the cash on the books will soon multiply. Our family will once again become one of the wealthiest. Don’t you think it’s time I arranged a suitable match for my son—a daughter from a wealthy family of equal standing?"
Qian Fei raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh, Uncle Li, if your son agrees to that, I certainly have no objections!"
Li Qiansheng looked at her and said, "I heard the director of the business department at headquarters is your ex-boyfriend."
Qian Fei replied, "I sincerely hope he and your old friend’s niece can blossom into something beautiful soon!"
Li Qiansheng chuckled. "If they were going to be together, they would have been together long ago."
Qian Fei also chuckled. "You really have the energy for everything, don’t you? No wonder you’ve been feeling unwell lately—must be all that overthinking wearing you down."
Li Qiansheng picked up two glasses of red wine and handed one to Qian Fei. "You’re the only one who dares to talk to me like this. Everyone else treats me with nothing but reverence."
Qian Fei took the glass. "That’s because I have nothing to gain from you, so I tell myself I don’t need to feel inferior—I should be neither servile nor overbearing!"
Li Qiansheng raised his glass to her, and Qian Fei lowered hers slightly to clink it against his.
"Qian Fei, I called you over because I actually wanted to say thank you. My son lost his mother when he was very young, and I spoiled him. I know better than anyone how willful, arrogant, playful, selfish, lazy, and irresponsible he was. But I’ve noticed that ever since he started living with you, he’s changed completely—inside and out. You could say he’s been reborn."
Listening to Old Li’s heartfelt words for the first time, Qian Fei snorted. "Uncle Li, allow me to clarify—we were roommates, not living together!"
Li Qiansheng said without batting an eye, "To me, it’s the same thing."
Qian Fei helplessly patted her forehead.
There’s no point trying to argue semantics with older folks.Li Qiansheng continued, "A while back when he came home, my heart nearly gave out when I saw him use a rice cooker to make a pot of rice for the first time—I almost needed medication. But that wasn't the only shock he gave me. He even started washing dishes after meals, casually doing chores around the house, tidying up, doing laundry, and sometimes even washing my socks. He also began considering other people's perspectives when interacting with them. I'm truly happy to see him change like this. Although I keep saying you've never been abroad, deep down, I'm very grateful you managed to shape him into who he is now. Seeing him like this, I think I can confidently hand him over to the girl who will continue making him better—even if she's from out of town, just passed the securities rep exam, never studied abroad, and struggled to buy a house only to sell it later."
Qian Fei had initially thought Old Man Li was actually a kind-hearted soul beneath his stern exterior, but by the last sentence, she realized she’d been naive—this man was just a sharp-tongued, cold-hearted old grump with a heart condition.
She pursed her lips. "Why does it sound like I'm the one getting the better deal? Even if you try to push him onto me now, Securities Rep Qian might not even want him!"
Li Qiansheng smirked. "Suit yourself. If you don’t want him, I’ll just find him a wealthy heiress instead!"
●︶3︶●
After the restructuring of Qiansheng Group, Li Yifei officially joined the company and gradually took over some of Li Qiansheng’s responsibilities.
He was swamped with work.
Qian Fei quietly took annual leave, contacted a travel agency, and prepared for a week-long trip abroad. She didn’t tell Li Yifei—she planned to enjoy some carefree fun on her own, mingling with handsome, chiseled Western men.
She had told him before that she’d do something without telling him first, as payback for him hiding his father’s identity from her.
With a simple travel bag in hand, she boarded the plane with effortless grace.
Watching others struggle with bulky suitcases, she couldn’t help but sigh. Over the past two years, she’d come to realize that life should be lived freely. What was the point of lugging so much around? If she needed anything, she could just buy it along the way—after all, Securities Rep Qian was now someone who could make serious money.
Leaning against the window, she gazed outside, waiting for the plane to take off.
Her faint reflection shimmered on the glass. Staring at that blurry image, she realized how much she had changed compared to two years ago.
She had grown confident, shed her doormat tendencies, and even developed a more feminine charm.
She smiled at her reflection.
She owed it all to that man. Without him, she wouldn’t be the bold, self-assured woman she was today.
A yawn escaped her. She had stayed up too late last night and was feeling drowsy. Unable to wait for takeoff, she pulled out an eye mask and put it on.
But even with the mask on, sleep eluded her. Her mind wandered aimlessly until, inevitably, it drifted to that infuriating man.
What was he doing now? If he found out she’d secretly gone abroad alone, how would he react? Would he drop everything, track down her itinerary, and chase after her?
The thought made her scoff at herself. She must’ve watched too many cheesy dramas—here she was, daydreaming like some naive schoolgirl.
She felt someone sit down beside her, their arm brushing against hers. She shifted slightly inward.
The plane began to ascend.The flight attendant came over to ask what they'd like to drink.
She thought about pretending to be asleep but remained silent.
Then she heard a clear, crisp voice answer, "Two orange juices, please—one for me and one for the lady inside!"
That voice was all too familiar!
She yanked off her eye mask.
Turning her head, she saw that nemesis of hers grinning at her with a dazzling display of white teeth.
He said, "Hey, beautiful! My name's HowTeen. What's yours?"
She couldn't help but flash him a radiant smile in return—
[Main Story End]
Please proceed to the author's note below. Mwah! ^_^
Don't go away! The adorable and hilarious extra chapters about [Yao Jingjing vs. Lu Ze] will continue ^_^ Mwah mwah~~
Author's Note: After two months of serialization, though it pains me to say it, the time has come to announce that the main story has concluded. I'm so grateful for everyone who's stayed by my side throughout this journey. Honestly, I never expected that after two and a half years away from writing, people would still read my work—and so many of you at that! I'm truly thankful for your support. Thank you all! I love you!
Actually, this novel has already been signed for publication. I'm not one to withhold endings for publishing purposes, so I'm sticking to my usual approach—the web version will conclude with the main story. For the print edition, I'll rack my brains to write extra chapters. Tentatively planned are [Two Baboons Get Married], [Married Life], [Old Man Qian and Old Man Li Playing Mahjong], and the birth of [A Pair of Twin Bun-dles]. There'll also be a complete adorable extra about the Grand Chancellor [Army Minister vs. Faction Members]. Once the book is published, I'll share these extras with everyone~~
Don't feel down, though! Starting tomorrow, I'll begin posting the adorable [Yao Jingjing vs. Lu Ze] extras. The outline's already prepared—it's genuinely adorable, I promise! Full of joy, no less entertaining than the two baboons ^_^
Additionally, after finishing the Yao Jingjing extras, I'll need to brainstorm content for the print edition's bonus chapters, revise the manuscript, and then take a break. So my new project might be on hold for a while. I'm not sure exactly when it'll start, but you can bookmark my column—you'll get notifications there when I launch a new project ●︶3︶● ←PC version ←Mobile version
Some have said my new story's synopsis doesn't seem like a comedy. Let me tell you, Aunt Nine only writes comedies—my style's set in stone, I couldn't not be funny even if I tried TT (I'm utterly incapable of angst 555). So don't be fooled by the melodramatic summary; go ahead and bookmark without hesitation [The heroine will grow from a naive, fragile girl into a wise and formidable woman]! Fist pump!
Aunt Nine once again prostrates in gratitude (risking severe chest flattening and deformation) to all you beauties for generously showering me with thunder, bombs, and cannons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your enduring love—sincerely grateful, bowing!!!!!!!
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