Peng Guoqing was surprised, but the other party was even more surprised than he was.
“I work here. You, on the other hand…”
Hang Xiaowen looked Peng Guoqing up and down. “Are you stalking me?”
Peng Guoqing’s face darkened.
Him stalking Hang Xiaowen?
He had only written nine versions of the proposal, not ninety. His brain had not gone soft, his eyes were not blind, and his sense of smell was unrivalled. He could detect the scent of green tea from several metres away.
Thinking of Hang Xiaowen’s green-tea tendencies, Peng Guoqing clamped his mouth firmly shut.
No matter why Hang Xiaowen had appeared at Jiaxin, Peng Guoqing would not change his attitude. If he ignored her, she would have no excuse to latch onto him.
Peng Guoqing was about to walk past her when Hang Xiaowen spoke first. “Junior Peng, I did some improper things in the past. It is only right that you dislike me. But I am different now from before. I truly cherish this job. Whatever the reason you are here, please do not make me lose it, alright?”
From her words, Hang Xiaowen clearly did not know Peng Guoqing was a shareholder in Jiaxin. She was afraid he would kick up a fuss in the company regardless of the setting and cause a scene.
Hang Xiaowen not only apologised for her previous extreme behaviour but solemnly promised she would never pester Peng Guoqing again.
Without waiting for him to reply, she clutched her files and hurried away.
Peng Guoqing wanted to sneer.
Shanghai was so vast, yet Hang Xiaowen had ended up at Jiaxin of all places. How could there be such a coincidence?
Peng Guoqing handed the ninth version of the proposal to Jiang Youjia, then deliberately went to HR to enquire about Hang Xiaowen.
It turned out that Jiaxin’s business had been growing steadily. This year they had recruited a batch of fresh graduates.
Normally, campus recruits would not start until July, but Jiaxin was short-staffed and keen for the new graduates to become productive quickly. They had therefore allowed the campus recruits to begin internships early.
Since the internship period counted towards the probation, several fresh graduates had started ahead of schedule. Hang Xiaowen was one of them.
“She has already signed the contract?”
Peng Guoqing felt as though he had swallowed a fly.
HR explained patiently. “Our recruitment process fully complies with company requirements. Hang Xiaowen graduated from a 211 university in Shanghai. She studied fashion design. Our planned development path for her is…”
“Alright, alright, no need to go on. Pretend I never asked.”
Peng Guoqing felt thoroughly deflated.
Hang Xiaowen had entered Jiaxin through the standard recruitment channel. Peng Guoqing could hardly force HR to dismiss her. Jiaxin was not the Peng family company. He held only a minority share, and he did not involve himself in day-to-day management. Even if he made such a demand, HR would not agree.
Peng Guoqing knew his place clearly. He did not throw his weight around like a spoiled young master in front of HR, lest he humiliate himself.
Jiang Youjia rang Peng Guoqing and asked him to come to her office.
Peng Guoqing was in low spirits.
It was not arrogance on his part. He simply did not believe in such coincidences. Though he did not know how Hang Xiaowen had discovered his connection to Jiaxin, her joining the company was certainly not innocent.
Peng Guoqing was an expert at spotting schemers and would not be taken in by Hang Xiaowen. Yet the thought of her constantly appearing in front of him from now on still filled him with dread.
Jiang Youjia tapped the proposal on her desk. “Each version you submit is more polished than the last. You have made great progress. With the standard of these proposals, even if you were not a Jiaxin shareholder, I would still want to hire you.”
Jiang Youjia thought highly of the ninth version Peng Guoqing had submitted.
Peng Guoqing held only 10 per cent of Jiaxin shares. His shareholder status alone was not enough for Jiang Youjia to offer insincere flattery.
Though Peng Guoqing had started from a low base, his improvement was rapid. Each revision was noticeably better, showing he had truly put effort into the task.
Peng Guoqing felt little joy. “You think it is good enough? Alas, it will still get sent back by Xie Qian.”
On this matter, Jiang Youjia did not have the final say.
Jiang Youjia smiled. “How do you know Xie Qian will reject it when you have not even tried?”
“It will make no difference whether I try or not. Xie Qian’s standards are too high.”
Did perfect proposals even exist in Xie Qian’s eyes?
Peng Guoqing strongly doubted it.
Even proposals from other Jiaxin staff would, in Xie Qian’s view, probably be merely passable. Fortunately Xie Qian did not handle Jiaxin’s daily operations, or the rejected proposals would pile high enough to block the Huangpu River.
Peng Guoqing harboured no hope at all. Yet, against all odds, the next day his ninth version passed Xie Qian’s review.
Peng Guoqing stared in shock.
“I passed?”
“What, do you want to keep revising?”
Xie Qian looked somewhat serious. “If you are willing to continue, I will support you.”
“No, no, no, I am not willing. I mean, let us leave it at this. This is already my limit. I am afraid further changes would only make it worse.”
Peng Guoqing feared Xie Qian might change his mind.
“The proposal is finalised. When can filming start?”
Xie Qian had been extremely strict while making Peng Guoqing revise, but once the proposal passed review, he generously delegated authority. “When to start filming is up to you. You are the one who put forward the proposal. I hope you can take personal charge of this shoot.”
Peng Guoqing’s mouth fell open. He looked at Xie Qian in disbelief.
Was this treatment really meant for him?
The only person Xie Qian had ever indulged like this was Wen Ying.
Peng Guoqing was deeply touched. “Xie Qian, you are really good to me. I misunderstood you before. I thought you valued the new friends you made after transferring to Rongcheng more highly. Now I realise our friendship from growing up together cannot be replaced by anyone else.”
At that moment, Peng Guoqing felt that, even if he could not match Wen Ying’s status in their little circle, he could at least outrank Wang Shuang and Li Mengjiao by a wide margin.
Below Wen Ying, he was Xie Qian’s number one.
Xie Qian could not be bothered to burst Peng Guoqing’s bubble of smug triumph.
Irreplaceable friendship? It was simply that Young Master Peng’s wallet was thick enough.
Even if the project lost money, it would mostly be Peng’s funds at stake. Twenty million was plenty for Peng Guoqing to splash out extravagantly.
For the sake of those twenty million, Xie Qian was especially tolerant towards Peng Guoqing.
Unaware of the truth, Peng Guoqing went happily to find Xie Tang with the good news.
Early spring. New buds sprouted on the campus trees and plants. Peng Guoqing waited cheerfully beneath the dormitory building for Xie Tang.
From a distance, Xie Tang approached side by side with someone.
The young man beside Xie Tang was half a head taller than her. Unlike the usual scruffiness of male students, he had a clean aura, handsome and refined features, and an air of scholarly refinement.
Walking shoulder to shoulder with Xie Tang across campus, he blended perfectly with the cultured atmosphere of the prestigious university.
“Peng Guoqing, what are you doing here?”
Xie Tang was surprised.
Peng Guoqing kept the smile on his face. “Sister Tang, who is this? I do not recognise him.”
The young man held out his hand first. “Hello. Xie Tang and I are in the same research group. I suppose I count as her senior.”
