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Before leaving get off work, Lin Yuming packed his things and reminded Sun Yiqiu, "You're supposed to be at work at nine tomorrow, don't be late. Even though there aren't many people here, we still need to follow the rules."

"Manager Lin, I promise I'll be on time." Sun Yiqiu nodded earnestly.

Actually, he was quite happy. This was the first time Lin Yuming had used the word "we," as if he really considered him a member of the group.

The office is like a big chessboard, and everyone is a chess piece.

The interns, Gao Sicong and Lan Qianyi, were just put on the table. General Manager Wu was the general, Manager Lin was the car, and Suning... Suning was like a horse, flexible and capable.

And what about himself? Sun Yiqiu thought to himself that he was probably just a pawn who hadn't found his place yet.

Just then, Wu Kezhi called Lin Yuming, "Old Lin, I have a last-minute appointment with a client tonight, it's very important. Contact Mr. Daniel and ask him to reschedule it for tomorrow. Don't forget."

Daniel? Sun Yiqiu, who was standing next to him, noted down the name; it sounded like a foreigner.

"Don't worry, boss, I'll contact them right away," Lin Yu assured Wu Kezhi over the phone.

But as soon as the call ended, Gao Sicong appeared in front of Lin Yuming: "Manager Lin, President Ma asked me to inform you that the energy group will be holding an emergency meeting in five minutes. Please make sure you attend."

Lin Yuming was taken aback: "Now? It's already after get off work..."

"Mr. Ma said the project is urgent and everyone must be there." Gao Sicong said and then left.

Lin Yuming was in a real bind.

On one hand, there was Daniel, an important client entrusted by Wu Kezhi, and on the other hand, there was a meeting suddenly convened by Ma Jianguo. He couldn't refuse either of them.

The main problem is that Ma Jianguo is known for his stubbornness and his favorite thing to do is to curse people.

If Ma Jianguo gets the chance, Lin Yuming will be in deep trouble.
He glanced at the time, then at Sun Yiqiu beside him...

Sun Yiqiu is definitely not suitable; should we have him contact foreign clients?

joke.

After quickly going through his thoughts, Lin Yuming thought of someone.

He immediately dialed the number: "Su Ning, where are you?"

The sound of traffic came from the other end of the phone: "I just got off work and am on my way home. What's up, Manager Lin?"

“Turn around and head to the Portman Hotel. Help me stall a client named Daniel, who is the head of a foreign fund and is very important to our team.” Lin Yuming spoke quickly. “I was suddenly called away by Boss Ma to a meeting, and the boss has an appointment with another client, so you’ll have to fill in.”

"Daniel? What's his background? What are we going to talk about?" Su Ning remained calm.

“He’s from Europe, working on a clean technology fund. He’s been in contact with our group before and is interested in collaborating. When you arrive, tell him that Mr. Wu had something come up and you’re representing him. Try to chat with him for as long as possible so he doesn’t feel neglected.”

"Understood, I'll go there now."

Lin Yuming breathed a sigh of relief after hanging up the phone.

Although it's a bit risky to send interns to greet important clients, there really isn't any other way right now.

Moreover, he trusts Su Ning; this kid is reliable in crucial moments.

On Wu Kezhi's side, Lin Yuming also quickly sent a WeChat message to explain the situation.

……

Five minutes later, Suning arrived at the lobby of the Portman Hotel.

I spotted Daniel immediately. He was a white man in his fifties, wearing a casual suit, sitting alone by the window in the coffee shop with a laptop in front of him.

“Mr. Daniel?” Suning walked over and greeted him in English.

Daniel looked up, somewhat surprised: "Who are you?"

“I am Su Ning from Group Four of Jin Chen Capital. Mr. Wu had an emergency meeting and sent me to meet with you first.” Su Ning said naturally, “He apologized and asked me to talk to you first. He will be here shortly.”

“Oh, I see.” Daniel smiled and gestured for Suning to sit down. “You can speak English? That’s good.”

"I know a little bit," Su Ning said modestly.

The waiter came over, and Suning ordered an Americano.

He quickly glanced at Daniel; there was a report on China's new energy market on the table, and a financial model of a project on the computer screen.

"Mr. Daniel, what are the main areas you're visiting in China this time?" Su Ning initiated the conversation.

“Clean technologies, especially energy storage and smart grids,” Daniel said. “Growth in the European market is slowing, and China is now the largest new energy market. Does Jinchen have any plans in this area?”

“We are indeed looking at several battery and energy storage projects.” Suning did not disclose specific information but gave a general direction. “China’s market is really big, but the competition is also fierce. What do you think is the biggest challenge for European technology to be implemented in China?”

This question hits the mark.

Daniel became interested: "First, there's localization. European technical standards and product designs may not be suitable for the needs of the Chinese market. Second, there's cost. China has a complete industrial chain, and local companies have a clear cost advantage."

The two discussed everything from technology to the market, from policy to business models.

Suning speaks fluent English and has a good understanding of the industry, so the conversation went very smoothly.

Daniel was increasingly surprised. This young man looked to be no more than twenty years old, but he had a deep understanding of cleaning technology and asked very professional questions.

"How long have you been in this line of work?" Daniel couldn't help but ask.

"It's still early days, we're still in the learning phase," Su Ning said. "However, China's new energy industry is developing very rapidly, and there are new things to learn every day."

"You're too modest," Daniel smiled. "It's really great that your team has someone as talented as you."

……

On the other side, Wu Kezhi had just finished a meeting with a client when he received a WeChat message from Lin Yuming.

Upon seeing the words "I had Suning receive Daniel," Wu Kezhi's expression changed, and he immediately made a phone call: "Lin Yuming, what are you doing? Sending an intern to receive Daniel? Do you know how important this client is?"

Lin Yuming was in a meeting in the energy group when he slipped into the corridor to answer a phone call: "Boss, I really have no choice. President Ma suddenly called a meeting, and you're not here. Sun Yiqiu definitely can't go, so I can only send Su Ning."

“Suning’s English is good, but that’s Daniel! The head of a well-known European fund! Can he handle him?”

"I think... it should be possible." Lin Yuming was actually a little unsure. "You know that kid Su Ning, he often surprises people."

"Hmph! If you mess this up, you'll see how I deal with you!" Wu Kezhi hung up the phone and immediately rushed to the Portman Hotel.

At this moment, he had already envisioned the worst-case scenario...

Suning made a mistake, offended a client, and the project fell through. Daniel felt that Jin Chen Capital was unprofessional...

The more I thought about it, the more anxious I became. Sometimes, just knowing English isn't enough; if you can't connect with someone, it's a disaster.

Twenty minutes later, Wu Kezhi rushed into the Portman Hotel coffee shop.

Then he froze.

Suning and Daniel were having a lively conversation by the window.

Daniel nodded from time to time, a smile on his face, and was jotting something down in his notebook.

The atmosphere... seems pretty good?

Wu Kezhi walked over and said, "Mr. Daniel, I'm sorry I'm late."

“Wu!” Daniel stood up and shook hands. “It’s alright, Sue and I had a very pleasant chat. Your young colleague is outstanding and has a deep understanding of the industry.”

Wu Kezhi was a little confused and looked at Su Ning.

Suning calmly said, "Mr. Daniel just shared the latest trends in the European energy storage market, which I found very inspiring for the projects we are currently looking at."

“Yes.” Daniel nodded. “Wu, it’s a good thing that your team has such young people. We just discussed possible areas of cooperation. We can bring in European technology, and you can be responsible for the implementation and investment in the Chinese market.”

Wu Kezhi quickly got to the point: "We are very interested in this direction. We can schedule a time to discuss the details."

“Of course.” Daniel glanced at his watch. “I have something to do today, let’s reschedule for another day.”

Before leaving, Daniel went up to Su Ning and said, "Su, let's add each other on WeChat. We had a great chat today, let's keep in touch."

The two added each other on WeChat, and Daniel even patted Su Ning on the shoulder: "Keep in touch."

After Daniel left, Wu Kezhi looked at Su Ning and asked, "What did you say to him?"

"It was just a normal conversation about the industry, the market, and potential collaborations," Suning said. "Mr. Daniel was very professional, and he asked very insightful questions."

"He didn't make things difficult for you?"

"No, you're too kind."

Wu Kezhi was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Great! Su Ning, you've given me another surprise."

Then Suning parted ways with Wu Kezhi, drove his BYD Tang home, and now lives alone in Tomson Riviera, which is quite comfortable.

……

Back in the car, Wu Kezhi called Lin Yuming: "Old Lin, you made the right bet this time. Not only did Su Ning not mess things up, but he also got along very well with Daniel, and the two even added each other on WeChat."

On the other end of the phone, Lin Yuming breathed a sigh of relief: "I told you! Suning is reliable!"

“However, this will not be a repeat of the previous one,” Wu Kezhi said. “We still need to personally receive important clients.”

"understand."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Yuming was in a great mood, and even Ma Jianguo's donkey-like face seemed more pleasing to the eye.

Suning didn't get home until 8 p.m.

As soon as I entered the room, my phone rang. It was a WeChat message from Daniel: "Su, we had a great chat today. I'll still be in Shanghai next week, let's meet up for coffee sometime."

Suning replied: "Okay, Mr. Daniel, we'll contact you anytime."

He put down his phone and recalled the hopeful look in Sun Yiqiu's eyes when he left work earlier that day.

In the office game, everyone is finding their place.

Gao Sicong wanted to be a chariot, charging recklessly; Lan Qianyi wanted to be a horse, leaping nimbly; Sun Yiqiu was still a pawn, inching forward step by step. And what about himself?

Suning walked to the window and looked at the night view of the Bund.

There's no need to be a chariot, horse, cannon, or general.

There's only one thing to do: use this game of chess to weave more fascinating stories.

As for what pieces to use and how to move them, that's not important; what matters is the result.

……

When Sun Yiqiu got home, it was already past seven o'clock in the evening.

Pushing open the door to my own home, I saw only a small table lamp lit in the living room.

Sun Xiangqin, the mother, was asleep on the sofa, still clutching the TV remote in her hand.

Hearing the door open, Sun Xiangqin woke up with a start, rubbing her eyes: "Yiqiu's back? Have you eaten?"

"I ate, it was at the company cafeteria." Sun Yiqiu put down his bag. "Mom, why are you sleeping on the sofa again? What if you catch a cold?"

"I've been waiting for you." Sun Xiangqin stood up. "How was work today? Were your colleagues nice to you? Was your boss strict?"

Sun Yiqiu answered a series of questions one by one: "Everything is fine. Although General Manager Wu is serious, he is reasonable. Manager Lin takes good care of me, and Su Ning has taught me a lot. The other colleagues... are also alright."

He spoke casually, without mentioning his embarrassment at not knowing anything, the gossip from his colleagues, or the reports and English documents he couldn't understand.

"That's good, that's good." Sun Xiangqin breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Mom knew you could do it. Here, let me show you something."

She pulled Sun Yiqiu into the small bedroom and took a handbag from the closet.

"open to take a look."

Sun Yiqiu opened the bag, inside was a brand new dark gray suit, with crisp fabric and fine workmanship.

He recognized the brand; he had seen it in shopping malls, and even the cheapest set cost six or seven thousand.

"Mom, what's wrong...?"

"I bought this for you." Sun Xiangqin's eyes lit up. "You have to dress presentably for work. Your old outfit is too small, it's too tight on the shoulders, it doesn't look good."

Sun Yiqiu touched the suit; it did feel nice to the touch.

But his first reaction was: "How much? That's too expensive!"

"It's not expensive, I bought it on sale," Sun Xiangqin said vaguely. "Try it on and see if it fits."

Sun Yiqiu couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to try it on.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he was wearing a well-fitting new suit and certainly looked much more energetic.

But he felt heavy-hearted; this outfit would cost his mother a month's salary.

"Mom, I'll return it tomorrow." He took off his clothes and carefully folded them. "It's too expensive, there's no need."

"Return it? What do you mean, return it!" Sun Xiangqin exclaimed, "Your mother bought it for you, so just wear it!"

"I really don't need to dress this nicely..."

"Yi Qiu," Sun Xiangqin suddenly interrupted him, her voice lowering, "Do you think these clothes won't last more than a few days?"

Sun Yiqiu was stunned.

“Although I don’t understand your investments and finance, I know that you can’t go to the battlefield in tattered clothes.” Sun Xiangqin’s eyes were a little red. “These clothes are not for others to see, but for yourself. When you wear them, you have to tell yourself: I’m going to war, I can’t run away.”

"mom……"

“If you really care about your mother, then keep wearing this outfit.” Sun Xiangqin touched the fabric of the suit. “Wear it until it’s worn out, until it’s too small, until… the day you no longer need it to give you courage.”

Sun Yiqiu felt a lump in his throat and lowered his head.

He knew his mother saw through him; she saw through his cowardice, his lack of confidence, and his desire to run away at any moment.

Yes! He did consider giving up.

On his first day at work, faced with incomprehensible jargon and incomprehensible documents, he really wanted to turn around and leave.

But his mother used this suit to block his escape route.

“Yiqiu, Mom knows you’ve had a tough time.” Sun Xiangqin’s voice was even softer. “Mom isn’t capable, I can’t give you much. But I can afford this outfit. Just think of it as… just think of it as Mom’s armor for you. Wear it, don’t be afraid.”

Sun Yiqiu looked up, his eyes wet with tears: "Mom, I will do my best."

"Ah, that's right." Sun Xiangqin smiled. "Go wash up and go to bed, you have to go to work tomorrow."

That night, Sun Yiqiu lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

He got up, took out the suit again, and hung it above the bed.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, making the outline of the suit faintly visible in the darkness.

Armor?
He recalled the martial arts movies he watched as a child, where heroes could become invincible once they put on their battle robes.

But the reality is, does putting on a suit automatically make him a warrior of Jin Chen Capital?

He was still the same Sun Yiqiu who graduated from high school and knew nothing.

Wearing a suit won't suddenly make him understand financial statements, speak English, or become an investment expert.

But it would remind him that his mother had saved up money to buy him this "armor." He couldn't run away wearing it.

……

The next morning, Sun Yiqiu solemnly put on his new suit.

Sun Xiangqin straightened his tie, looked him over from left to right, and nodded in satisfaction: "Looking sharp! Looking really sharp!"

"Mom, I'm leaving."

"Go ahead and do a good job."

When Sun Yiqiu stepped into the Jin Chen Capital building again, he had a different feeling.

In the elevator, he ran into Gao Sicong.

"Hey, new clothes?" Gao Sicong looked him up and down. "Not bad, they fit better than the previous ones."

"Yes, my mom bought it."

"You're really willing to spend that much; this brand isn't cheap," Gao Sicong said. "But then again, in a place like ours, we need to maintain a presentable image."

Upon reaching the 19th floor, Sun Yiqiu entered the office of the fourth comprehensive group.

Lin Yuming was holding a coffee when he saw him and paused for a moment: "Not bad! Xiao Sun, clothes make the man."

Su Ning also looked up and nodded: "It fits well."

But Sun Yiqiu could sense that the suit did make him look more professional, at least not like someone who had just come to do odd jobs.

In the morning, Lin Yuming assigned him a new task: "Xiao Sun, today you'll try to compile this industry report. Highlight key data in yellow and key conclusions in red. If you don't understand anything, ask me or Suning."

“Okay.” Sun Yiqiu took the document.

He turned on his computer, took a deep breath, and started working.

When he encounters unfamiliar technical terms, he looks them up in the dictionary.

When faced with complex data, he calculates it slowly.

Although slow, they were very serious.

At lunchtime, Sun Yiqiu ran into several interns in the cafeteria.

Zeng Hao leaned closer: "Sun Yiqiu, I heard that Su Ning from your team hosted a big foreign client yesterday? Is that true?"

“Really.” Sun Yiqiu nodded. “Mr. Daniel.”

Lan Qianyi also looked over: "Is Suning's English very good?"

"Yes, he communicated with Mr. Daniel entirely in English."

Lan Qianyi nodded thoughtfully.

Gao Sicong asked, "And you? Are you adjusting well to Group Four?"

“I’m learning,” Sun Yiqiu said. “Suning has taught me a lot.”

“It’s good to have a mentor,” Gao Sicong said. “In our energy group, Boss Ma only assigns tasks, and we have to figure out the problems ourselves.”

After finishing his meal, Sun Yiqiu returned to his workstation and continued organizing reports.

He finally finished tidying up at 3 p.m.

Check it once and send it to Lin Yuming.

A few minutes later, Lin Yuming replied: "Okay, the data is all correct. There's just a slight issue with the formatting. I've changed a few things; please check them."

Sun Yiqiu opened the revised version and saw the changes Lin Yuming had made...

Title hierarchy, font consistency, chart labeling... these are all details, but he didn't notice them.

He carefully wrote it down: "Pay attention to the format next time."

Before leaving get off work, Suning came over and said, "You did a good job today. Tomorrow I'll teach you how to use data analysis software."

"Thank you, Brother Su."

...(End of chapter)