Who could Xie Qian turn to for information on the situation?
Qi Assistant was the best choice.
Xie Jinghu had left Qi Assistant outside the book signing event and walked away. Poor Qi Assistant had endured the summer heat while keeping watch for several hours.
There was no disturbance at the book signing venue. Qi Assistant had already breathed a sigh of relief. Who would have thought that after Zhang Nan and the others emerged, they did not leave immediately? Instead, they stayed outside the venue. It looked as if they were preparing for a prolonged standoff.
Were these young people planning something major?
Qi Assistant did not even dare to blink. He feared that a single lapse in attention might lead to a major blunder.
He waited and waited. Time ticked by, minute by minute. The queue of readers at the book signing grew shorter and shorter. The event for today was finally drawing to a close!
Qi Assistant’s phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID and nearly jumped out of his skin.
“Mr Xie.”
On the other end of the line, Xie Jinghu’s voice was thick with impatience. “Has Xie Qian shown up?”
“I haven’t seen the young master.”
“What about Zhang Nan?”
“Miss Zhang Nan went inside the venue and then came out again. She is still waiting outside. I am not sure what she has in mind.”
Qi Assistant chose his words with care.
Xie Jinghu’s mind was entirely occupied with the matter of Zou Weijun coming to work at “Jinhu”. Hearing that Xie Qian had not appeared as expected, and that even Zhang Nan had not caused a scene, he began to suspect that the information from Zhao Dong was unreliable.
Upon reflection, this was likely a deliberate trap set by Zou Weijun and Xie Qian.
They had used Wen Ying, this so-called “girlfriend”, to divert his attention and leave him off guard. Then Zou Weijun would strike suddenly and catch him unprepared!
Zou Weijun was indeed not particularly capable.
But Xie Qian was almost eighteen.
Zou Weijun starting work at “Jinhu” was clearly to scout the ground and pave the way for Xie Qian!
If Xie Qian did not return to the capital now, and waited another year or so, he might launch another surprise attack just like Zou Weijun.
“Forget about things there. Head back to the company first. I need to speak with you.”
Xie Jinghu issued his latest instructions to Qi Assistant. Although Qi Assistant was still unaware of exactly what Zou Weijun had done, the “divert the tiger from the mountain” ploy had undoubtedly worked. So it was not that he underestimated Mr Xie. Once the wife and son teamed up, Mr Xie’s chances of winning were truly slim!
I am doing this for Mr Xie’s own good. I am helping him keep an escape route.
Qi Assistant was racing down the path of betrayal without looking back. His self-justifications were coming more easily than ever.
He hailed a taxi by the roadside and rushed towards the company headquarters. He had barely settled into his seat when Xie Qian’s call came through.
Xie Qian asked about the situation at the venue. Qi Assistant reported everything clearly, without embellishment.
When he mentioned that Zhang Nan was still lingering outside the venue, Xie Qian frowned.
Qi Assistant thought it over carefully and felt it was not a big issue. “Young master, you should know that these things rely on momentum, like a sudden burst of energy. If nothing chaotic happened when the momentum was at its peak, there will not be any major problems later. Moreover, Mr Xie’s call came before yours. He told me to ignore this side. I think Mr Xie will not interfere with Wen Ying’s affairs any further.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Qi Assistant.”
“You are too kind!”
Qi Assistant desperately wanted to say something to pledge his loyalty, but he worried that Xie Qian might see him as a sycophantic villain. Fortunately, Xie Qian was remarkably sensible. While thanking Qi Assistant, he also mentioned that there would be plenty of time in the future. This left Qi Assistant deeply stirred.
The young master had accepted his defection!
“Young master, regarding the book signing event…”
“I will follow up myself.”
Xie Qian gauged the time and called Wen Ying. Her phone was switched off. He tried Xiao Nin instead, and this time it connected.
“Wen Ying’s phone ran out of battery. Once the book signing ended, she said she wanted to meet some friends from the capital. I did not go with her.”
Xiao Nin sounded a bit nervous. “Did I do something wrong?”
“It is fine. I will ask the others.”
Wen Ying had actually gone out without taking Xiao Nin along, and her phone was off due to a dead battery. Xie Qian had been quite confident that Wen Ying could handle things, but now he could not help feeling a little worried.
Who else could he call?
He certainly could not call Zhang Nan.
Xie Qian never initiated contact with Zhang Nan. Making this call would be tantamount to provoking her indirectly.
All he could do was summon Peng Guoqing and have him reach out to Tai Wu on his behalf.
“Tell Tai Wu to think carefully about whether he wants to cross me. Once he has thought it through, he will know what to do!”
Xie Qian’s voice was not loud when he said this, yet Peng Guoqing could not help holding his breath. “He has always been afraid of you. Tai Wu followed along the whole time because he feared Zhang Nan might do something extreme.”
Was it important whether Wen Ying was Xie Qian’s girlfriend?
“Girlfriend” was just a label. Whether it existed or not was irrelevant. What Peng Guoqing knew for certain was that Xie Qian truly cared about Wen Ying!
He hoped that fool Tai Xiaowu would not pick the wrong side.
Peng Guoqing slipped aside to call Tai Wu, praying fervently in his heart.
…
The post-event meeting between Wen Ying and Zhang Nan was not as tense as others might have imagined.
The book signing had lasted for several hours, leaving Wen Ying exhausted and famished. Remembering that Zhang Nan was still waiting, Wen Ying gritted her teeth and turned down the bookseller’s dinner invitation. Only after the readers had dispersed did she slip out through the back door. Her first words to Zhang Nan were to demand that the other woman treat her to a meal. She seemed utterly oblivious to the meaning of the word “politeness”.
“You want me to buy you dinner?”
Zhang Nan had not eaten yet herself!
The mere mention of “dinner” made Zhang Nan’s stomach rumble with hunger.
Hungry or not, why should she treat Wen Ying to a meal?
Wen Ying was ever understanding. “Is it that you do not have enough pocket money? No worries. Since you are friends with Xie Qian, that makes you my friend too. If you are short on cash, I will cover this meal.”
“I will pay!”
Zhang Nan ground her teeth.
Bestselling authors made good money. Zhang Nan lacked the nerve to fleece a potential rival in love for a lavish meal, only to be fleeced in return by that very rival.
Zhang Nan was intensely curious about Wen Ying. She hoped to observe her more closely over dinner.
However, Wen Ying ate at a steady pace, and her table manners were impeccable. This left Zhang Nan thoroughly frustrated.
During the meal, Tai Wu and the others joined them. Once they finished eating, Wen Ying dismissed them.
Tai Wu dawdled, reluctant to leave. Wen Ying muttered, “You lot are not worried that I might hit Zhang Nan, are you? Zhang Nan is curious if I am Xie Qian’s girlfriend. Are you curious too?”
At that time, the concept of “danmei” had not yet gained popularity in the country. Even so, Wen Ying’s meaningfully lingering gaze was enough to make Tai Wu and the others squirm in their seats.
It was hard to pinpoint exactly what was off, but something felt strangely uncomfortable.
Zhang Nan waved her hand, shooing Tai Wu and the others out like ducks. “All of you, out. I do not believe she can eat me alive.”
Now that only Zhang Nan and Wen Ying remained, Zhang Nan spoke more bluntly.
“What exactly is your relationship with Xie Qian? You have strung me along for half the day. It is time to tell the truth. Or do you lack the courage?”
Wen Ying calmly wiped the corner of her mouth clean. “Zhang Nan, you like Xie Qian a great deal, do you not? Let us be frank. Do you think Xie Qian is in a position to have a girlfriend right now? If you are truly his friend, you should know his current circumstances. Rather than pursuing some immature romance while he is still in school, I believe Xie Qian has more pressing matters to attend to.”
