“Mr. Xie, there’s a meeting waiting for you to chair.”
Assistant Qi quietly reminded him. Xie Jinghu snorted and turned to ask, “I recall the Zhang family has a young girl who’s quite fond of Xie Qian. Do you remember?”
Assistant Qi nodded reluctantly, “You mean Miss Zhang Nan, don’t you? She’s visited you at the company several times.”
This situation struck Qi as utterly bizarre.
They were all underage students. It was normal for a girl to like a boy, but when she couldn’t get a response from the boy himself, going over his head to curry favour with his father… honestly, most girls wouldn’t have the audacity or nerve!
When Xie Qian first went to Chengdu, Zhang Nan came by multiple times, sweetly calling “Uncle Xie.” Xie Jinghu had no time to entertain a young girl, so Qi handled everything.
Later, Zhang Nan stopped coming, not because Xie Jinghu snubbed her, but because word had spread in Beijing’s circles about the discord between Xie Qian and his father. Knowing Xie Qian’s temperament, Zhang Nan quickly distanced herself from Xie Jinghu.
Now that Xie Jinghu brought up Zhang Nan, Qi’s heart sank. Sure enough, Xie Jinghu asked, “Take a look across the street. How does she compare to Zhang Nan?”
Across the street was Wen Ying.
Wen Ying had finished eating beef noodles with her brother Wen Kai, and the siblings were chatting and laughing as they left the shop.
Qi glanced twice and spoke honestly, “Setting aside other factors, her appearance and demeanor are on par with Miss Zhang Nan.”
Teenage girls who kept themselves neat and carried themselves with poise couldn’t possibly look bad.
Moreover, Wen Ying was indeed striking.
Add to that her titles as a bestselling author, screenwriter, and popular blogger, and without comparing family backgrounds, Qi felt Wen Ying outshone Zhang Nan by far.
Xie Jinghu clearly didn’t want to hear the truth. Hearing Qi say Wen Ying was on par with Zhang Nan, he frowned, “What kind of taste do you have? She’s far below Zhang Nan! Never mind, talking to you is pointless. Find a way to leak her situation to Zhang Nan. You don’t need to worry about the rest.”
Leak what to Zhang Nan?
Qi asked for clarification, and Xie Jinghu sneered, “Say she’s Xie Qian’s girlfriend.”
Whoa!
Qi couldn’t help but glance at Wen Ying again.
This was Xie Qian’s girlfriend?
Honestly, Xie Qian always seemed otherworldly to Qi, who once thought he might become a monk.
Now, Qi realised Xie Qian was no different from other teenage boys. No matter how smart or scholarly, he’d still fall for a girl like his peers.
Earlier, Qi had seen Wen Ying only as a “bestselling author,” “screenwriter,” and “popular blogger.” Now, with the added label of “Xie Qian’s girlfriend,” her aura glowed even brighter, as if she were sparkling…
“Xiao Qi?”
“Your instructions are noted. I’ll handle it properly.”
Qi bowed respectfully, his mind racing.
Xie Qian had a girlfriend.
Xie Jinghu would definitely not approve.
So, Xie Jinghu wanted to leak this to Zhang Nan.
Zhang Nan was infatuated with Xie Qian but failed to win him over. If she suddenly learned he had a girlfriend, what would she do?
If something happened to Wen Ying, Xie Qian would inevitably be affected. Xie Jinghu’s move was akin to using someone else to do his dirty work—a common tactic in business. Sticking strictly to rules often meant missing out on deals.
But for a corporate tycoon to use such a low tactic against a teenage girl, stirring up jealousy between young women to deal with his own son… wasn’t Xie Jinghu’s move a bit too underhanded?
An assistant’s future depended on backing the right leader. In that moment, Qi’s heart grew cold, his prospects seeming bleak from every angle.
Wen Ying saw Wen Kai off to his company and took a taxi away. Xie Jinghu didn’t follow, instructing Qi to handle the matter quickly.
Wen Ying was in Beijing for the book signing. Once it was over, she’d likely leave. If Zhang Nan learned the news after she was gone, it would be pointless.
Qi wrestled with his thoughts for a long time.
A faint urge to rebel stirred within him.
He tried to convince himself: it wasn’t about betraying Xie Jinghu; it was just that Xie Jinghu’s recent actions were too shady. If Xie Jinghu did something to anger Mr. Xie Senior, he’d be the one to suffer!
After this mental justification, Qi’s guilt as a double-crosser eased significantly. While carrying out Xie Jinghu’s orders to leak Wen Ying’s information to Zhang Nan, he tipped off Xie Qian, “Young Master Xie, I’m sorry. I have to follow Mr. Xie’s orders; I need this salary.”
Qi explained his predicament, and Xie Qian expressed understanding.
Over the phone, Xie Qian’s voice was calm, “First, Wen Ying is not my girlfriend. Second, my father’s actions are downright despicable.”
“Yes, yes…”
Qi breathed a sigh of relief, “So it’s just a misunderstanding. It won’t matter if Miss Zhang Nan knows—”
“It absolutely matters.”
Xie Qian cut him off, “Zhang Nan has been spoiled since childhood, arrogant and unreasonable. Wen Ying is my friend, and I don’t want her troubled by Zhang Nan. If anything like this happens again, I hope you’ll inform me immediately!”
Huh?
Qi was confused.
Not his girlfriend, yet he cared this much?
Qi quickly agreed.
Tipping off Xie Qian once opened the door for more. By doing so, Qi had forged a connection with him.
If Xie Qian defeated his father’s illegitimate child abroad, Qi wouldn’t face a reckoning. This was his way of switching sides, securing a fallback.
…
After hanging up with Qi, Xie Qian fell silent for a long time.
Detective Luo had uncovered evidence in Shanghai, enough to ruin the reputation of the reporter bribed by Zhao Xi. But before the Shanghai issue was resolved, trouble brewed in Beijing.
Who had tipped Xie Jinghu off about Wen Ying?
For two years, Xie Qian had been careful to shield those around him, not wanting Xie Jinghu to notice any of his friends, especially Wen Ying!
Wen Ying wasn’t his girlfriend, and Qi might believe that, but Xie Jinghu, always self-assured, had already assumed she was and wouldn’t change his mind just because Xie Qian denied it.
Xie Qian wasn’t worried about Zhang Nan troubling Wen Ying. Wen Ying wasn’t soft; if Zhang Nan tried anything, she’d likely hit a brick wall.
Xie Qian’s irritation stemmed from Xie Jinghu knowing about Wen Ying. She might escape this time, but what about next time?
He recalled his mother Zou Weijun’s warning.
Closeness could sometimes bring trouble to others…
Xie Qian called Zou Weijun, who remained calm after hearing the situation, “Targeting a young girl? Xie Jinghu’s really outdone himself. Don’t worry, I’ll handle this. I’ll make sure he’s too busy to bother Wen Ying!”
