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During the few days of the cold war with Lan Qianyi, Su Ning felt that life was a bit boring.

Perhaps I've gotten used to the carefree life surrounded by beautiful women, and I feel bored being alone in my own world.

During the day, things were alright, but the energy group had a lot of work to do, and Xu Taiping and others were constantly being scolded by Ma Jianguo.

Ma Jianguo guessed that Suning's son had a powerful background, so he didn't make things difficult for him or target him.

That's how work fills up your time.

But when I got back at night, alone in the empty house, looking at the magnificent Huangpu River, I felt a little uneasy.

In the past, at this time, he would either chat with Lan Qianyi on WeChat, ask her out for dinner, or... go directly to her place.

But the two are still in a cold war, neither willing to back down first.

The main issue is that Lan Qianyi reads the messages I sent but doesn't reply.

On Friday night, Suning was wondering whether to go back to her old house when her phone rang.

It was a WeChat message from Li Shiyan: "Su Ning, are you free this weekend? Let's have dinner together?"

Su Ning looked at the message, thought for a moment, and replied, "I'm free. When?"

"Tomorrow night? I know a good Cantonese restaurant."

"Okay, send me the address."

"Okay, see you at six tomorrow."

The appointment was made quickly and decisively, without any unnecessary chatter.

Suning put down his phone, feeling a little better, at least he had plans for the weekend.

……

At six o'clock the next evening, Suning arrived at the Cantonese restaurant on time.

The shop is located in an old alley in Xuhui District. The storefront is small, but once you step inside, you'll find a hidden gem. The decor is in the style of old Shanghai, with solid wood tables and chairs and old photos hanging on the walls.

Li Shiyan had already arrived and was sitting by the window.

She wore a light green dress today, with her hair down and light makeup, and looked a bit more mature than when she was in kindergarten.

"You're here." She smiled and waved.

"Have you been waiting long?" Su Ning sat down.

"No, I just arrived too." Li Shiyan pushed the menu towards him. "Take a look and see what you want to eat. I come here often; the taste is very authentic."

Suning flipped through the menu: "You order, I'm easy."

"Then I won't be polite." Li Shiyan called over the waiter and skillfully ordered several dishes: poached chicken, steamed fish, lettuce with oyster sauce, shrimp dumplings, and a slow-cooked soup.

After ordering, she smiled and said, "I've loved Cantonese food since I was a child. My dad used to take me there often when I was little, and I thought poached chicken with ginger and scallion oil was the best thing in the world."

"It seems your father has had a great influence on you?" Su Ning asked.

“Yes.” Li Shiyan nodded. “But he wasn’t as busy back then as he is now. He could still find time to have a meal with me every week. Later, as his business grew bigger and bigger, we ate together less and less.”

The waiter served tea first, and Li Shiyan poured a cup for Su Ning: "And you? What kind of dishes do you like to eat?"

"I'm fine with anything, I'm not picky."

"They're easy to take care of," Li Shiyan joked. "By the way, how are you doing at Jin Chen? I heard from Sun Yiqiu that your group and their group have been having some conflicts lately?"

Su Ning took a sip of tea: "Yes, some friction at work is normal."

“Sun Yiqiu is quite interesting.” Li Shiyan smiled as she remembered something. “Last time he helped President Yu pick up Xiaoxiao, he was forced to be a ‘mom’ for an entire afternoon, wearing a pink apron and cooking. He looked so funny.”

“Sun Yiqiu?” Su Ning imagined the scene and laughed. “He is indeed honest and anyone can order him around.”

“Honest people have their own kind of good fortune,” Li Shiyan said. “I think President Yu likes him quite a bit, saying he’s reliable and down-to-earth.”

The dishes were served one after another.

The two ate and chatted, their topics ranging from work to life, from Shanghai to abroad.

Li Shiyan does have a cheerful personality. She speaks directly but not harshly, and her eyes crinkle when she smiles, making people feel very comfortable.

She told many funny stories about kindergarten...

Which child wet their pants again? Which child learned to write their name for the first time? Which parent made a strange request?

“Sometimes it’s quite tiring,” she said. “Parents are hard to communicate with, kids are noisy, and the kids especially like to tell lies, plus the salary isn’t high. But every time I see the kids’ smiling faces, I feel it’s all worth it.”

"Have you ever thought about going back to your dad's company?" Su Ning asked.

“I’ve thought about it!” Li Shiyan picked up a piece of chicken. “But my dad’s affairs are too complicated, I don’t like them. Kindergarten is simple, the kids either like you or they don’t, there aren’t so many twists and turns.”

She paused, then looked at Su Ning: "What about you? Your Su family's Jianguo Group is also a large enterprise. Haven't you thought about going back to take over?"

"I'm thinking about it," Su Ning said honestly. "My dad is getting old, and the group is under a lot of pressure to transform, so we need people. But I want to venture out for a few more years, so I need to find a few helpers who I know well."

“I understand.” Li Shiyan nodded. “My dad always urges me to settle down and live a stable life. But I think that life is only a few decades long, and you should do something you like.”

These words struck a chord with Su Ning, who raised his teacup and said, "A toast to doing what you love."

Li Shiyan also raised her glass: "To uncompromising principles."

The two bumped into each other and laughed.

It took more than an hour to eat.

When it came time to pay the bill, Li Shiyan insisted on paying, but Su Ning stopped her, saying, "It was supposed to be my treat."

"Then I'll treat next time." Li Shiyan didn't stand on ceremony. "I know a good local Shanghai restaurant, how about next weekend?"

"Row."

It was already dark when I left the restaurant.

A gentle evening breeze blew by, carrying the warmth of early summer.

"Shall I take you back?" Su Ning asked.

"No need, I'm driving," Li Shiyan said. "What about you?"

"I drove here too."

"Why are you driving a BYD? Given your family background, you should be into sports cars, right?"

"I don't like sports cars! They feel too flashy. But it's convenient to pick up girls with a sports car, but no girls are paying attention to me now."

"Hehe, then you'd better hurry up and change your car."

The two stood at the door for a while.

Li Shiyan suddenly said, "Su Ning, it's quite enjoyable to have dinner with you. Unlike some other people, I always have to guess what they're thinking, which is exhausting."

“Me too,” Su Ning said.

"Then... keep in touch?" Li Shiyan tilted her head to look at him.

"it is good."

Li Shiyan waved and walked towards the parking lot.

Watching Li Shiyan's car drive away, Su Ning stood by the roadside and lit a cigarette.

Tonight's meal was truly enjoyable.

Li Shiyan has a good personality, is easy to talk to, is genuine and down-to-earth, and doesn't have the airs of a rich heiress.

It's very easy to be around her.

But for some reason, Lan Qianyi's face kept appearing in his mind...

When she's angry, when she's laughing, when she's working, and especially... when she's in my arms, so charming.

He took out his phone and opened his chat with Lan Qianyi.

The last message he sent three days ago was, "Tell me when you get home," but she didn't reply. "Little Lanlan, I miss you! Are you still angry?"

However, Lan Qianyi on the other end still read the message but didn't reply. Actually, she was already being very accommodating by not deleting her.

So let's wait a little longer! Some things can't be rushed.

……

The supplementary agreement has been deadlocked for several days, with neither Group Four nor the Energy Group willing to back down.

Yu Wenli, as the middleman, was in a real bind.

She is the general manager of the TMT department. Originally, this matter had nothing to do with her, but both groups are under the investment department, representing the face of the new business department and the traditional business department. If it blows up, it will affect the atmosphere of the entire department.

Moreover, she had witnessed the conflict firsthand and knew that neither side was easy to mess with.

Although they knew that Group 4 was definitely wronged, otherwise they wouldn't have reacted so strongly.

But this is a brutal workplace, not a court of law where right and wrong can be clearly distinguished.

On Wednesday afternoon, Yu Wenli went directly to see Wang Yunlai, the general manager of the New Business Formats Department.

In Wang Yunlai's office, Yu Wenli got straight to the point: "President Wang, this supplementary agreement can't be delayed any longer. The project needs to move forward, and this stalemate between the two sides is delaying the company's affairs."

Wang Yunlai also looked worried: "I know, I know. But you know Wu Kezhi's temper. He's been so insulted this time, it's harder than climbing to heaven to get him to apologize. And Boss Ma is sticking to his guns, insisting that he bow and apologize in public."

“I’ll talk to Mr. Ma,” Yu Wenli said. “The key is Wu Kezhi. Mr. Wang, let’s be pragmatic. There’s no point in continuing this stalemate. I admit that Group Four is clearly being wronged, but without an agreement, nothing we say will make a difference. Even if we find one, it won’t matter much; everyone knows the Energy Group’s nature. So my suggestion is to have Group Four submit a supplementary agreement and move the project forward. As for the assault, Wu Kezhi has to apologize. It doesn’t have to be a public apology, but he has to at least show some respect.”

Wang Yunlai thought for a moment: "Could Wu Kezhi agree to a new agreement?"

“He has no choice but to agree,” Yu Wenli said. “It’s the most feasible solution right now. We can’t just let the project fall through, can we? If Director Qu asks about it later, our entire department won’t be able to explain it.”

These words struck a chord with Wang Yunlai, who was most afraid of things escalating and alarming Director Qu.

In fact, how could President Qu be completely unaware? He simply left them to handle it themselves.

“Okay, let’s do it your way.” Wang Yunlai made the decision. “I’ll talk to Wu Kezhi, and you go and appease Ma Jianguo. Let’s work together to resolve this matter as soon as possible.”

……

In the afternoon, Wang Yunlai called Wu Kezhi to his office.

As soon as Wu Kezhi entered the room, he saw Wang Yunlai's expression and knew what he was going to say.

"Old Wu, have a seat." Wang Yunlai poured him a cup of tea. "Let's get straight to the point. This supplementary agreement can't be delayed any longer."

Wu Kezhi didn't take the tea: "President Wang, I didn't lose the agreement, so why should I provide another copy?"

“I know you didn’t lose it,” Wang Yunlai said. “But the problem is, we can’t find the agreement, and the project is stuck here. Do you want to prove a point, or do you want to get the project done?”

Wu Kezhi remained silent.

“Old Wu, let’s be realistic. Even if you miraculously find that supplementary agreement, so what? Will you be able to fire President Ma and President Xu? Will a righteous official stand up for you?” Wang Yunlai continued to persuade, “You can redo the agreement; it won’t take much time. The project can continue to move forward, and you can prove your ability. As for the assault… just apologize to President Xu, and that’ll be the end of it. You don’t necessarily have to bow in public; a written apology email will suffice.”

"Why should I apologize to him?" Wu Kezhi sneered. "Shouldn't he have been hit for his foul mouth?"

“He deserved it, but what’s done is done,” Wang Yunlai said. “This is a company, not a gangster’s den. Even if you call the police, it’s the same: if you hit someone, you have to take responsibility. The police won’t pursue his foul language. Old Wu, take my advice, humble yourself, and get through this first. There will be plenty of opportunities to make up for it later.”

Wu Kezhi remained silent for a long time. Finally, he stood up and said, "Fine, I can redo the agreement. But I'll decide how to write the apology email myself."

"Okay." Wang Yunlai breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as you have the attitude, that's fine."

Meanwhile, Yu Wenli also went to find Ma Jianguo.

Ma Jianguo initially refused to budge, insisting that Wu Kezhi bow and apologize in public.

Yu Wenli said directly, "President Ma, do you really want to take this to President Qu? President Qu hates internal disunity the most. If everyone is punished equally, you won't get the better end of it."

Ma Jianguo hesitated.

“My suggestion is to have Group Four submit a new agreement and let the project continue. As for Wu Kezhi, President Wang will make him apologize, at least in writing,” Yu Wenli said. “It’s better for everyone if we leave this matter here.”

Ma Jianguo thought for a moment and finally nodded: "Okay, let's do as General Manager Yu says."

……

On Thursday, the four groups resubmitted supplementary agreements.

On the energy side, Xu Taiping was also feeling guilty and didn't want to cause any more trouble, so he had no choice but to obediently accept it.

On Friday morning, Wu Kezhi sent out his apology email.

The email was sent to all colleagues in the investment department, with the subject line "Explanation regarding the conflict with colleague Xu Taiping".

The content is short, but it is written in... a style very similar to Wu Kezhi's.

"I, Wu Kezhi, would like to clarify the following regarding the conflict with my colleague Xu Taiping from the Energy Group last week: First, I did indeed physically assault Xu Taiping, and I admit my mistake and am willing to accept company punishment. Second, Xu Taiping lost important documents during work handover and subsequently shifted blame and slandered colleagues. Whether this behavior was appropriate is for everyone to judge for themselves. Third, the supplementary agreement has been resubmitted, and the project can proceed normally. Finally, I thank everyone for their attention to this matter, and I hope everyone will learn from my experience. When encountering unreasonable people, do not resort to violence; try to reason with them. Although reasoning with some people may be useless, at least it will not cause trouble for the company."

This isn't an apology letter; it's clearly a sarcastic one.

The moment the email was sent out, the entire investment department was in an uproar.

Upon seeing the email, Xu Taiping turned green with rage and stormed into Ma Jianguo's office: "President Ma! Look at this! What kind of apology is Wu Kezhi giving? He's clearly insulting me!"

Ma Jianguo was also furious. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "That Wu Kezhi! He doesn't know what's good for him! I'm going to find Director Qu right now!"

Just as he was about to leave, Su Ning pushed the door open and came in.

"Mr. Ma, please calm down," Su Ning said.

"Calm down? How can I calm down?" Ma Jianguo pointed at the computer screen. "Look at the crap he wrote!"

Su Ning naturally saw the veiled insult in the email, and in his heart, he felt that Wu Kezhi's writing was quite satisfying; those people in the energy group were indeed too shameless.

“Mr. Ma, you might not get the desired result if you go to see Mr. Qu now,” Su Ning said.

"What do you mean?"

“First, although the original supplementary agreement is missing, Wu Kezhi has a document signed by Manager Xu during the handover. If this matter is investigated, Manager Xu will be held accountable for dereliction of duty,” Su Ning said calmly. “Second, although President Qu doesn’t like Wu Kezhi, he has to rely on him. You know how many projects Group Four has done and how many scapegoats they’ve taken over over the years. If things really escalate, President Qu might not completely side with us to maintain balance.”

Ma Jianguo stared at Su Ning: "Go on."

“Third, this matter has now been resolved. The agreement has been revised, and an apology email has been sent. If you continue to dwell on it, President Qu will think you are making a mountain out of a molehill and affecting departmental unity.” Su Ning paused. “Therefore, it is best to stop now. Although Wu Kezhi’s email was harsh, at least he admitted his mistake in hitting someone. If you continue to make a fuss, it will only make you seem petty.”

Ma Jianguo fell silent. He paced around the office a few times before sitting back down in his chair.

Xu Taiping, who was standing nearby, became anxious: "President Ma, we can't just let this go! This isn't an apology, it's a slap in the face to us!"

"Shut up!" Ma Jianguo glared at him. "If you hadn't lost the documents, would all this mess have happened?"

Xu Taiping was speechless.

After thinking for a long time, Ma Jianguo finally sighed and said, "Forget it. Su Ning is right, let's stop here."

He looked at Xu Taiping: "This matter ends here. Be careful in the future, and don't cause me any more trouble."

Xu Taiping wanted to say something more, but seeing Ma Jianguo's expression, he had no choice but to shut up.

Suning left the office.

As he closed the door, he heard Ma Jianguo say to Xu Taiping, "Also, don't mess with Wu Kezhi in the future. He's a madman. If you really push him too far, he's capable of anything."

Outside the door, Su Ning smiled. This matter was finally over.

Although Wu Kezhi's email was indeed harsh, at least Group Four didn't suffer any losses.

Wu Kezhi really punched Xu Taiping hard; it was a real punch.

The energy group... suffered in silence.

That's just how it is sometimes in the workplace...

We may not be able to achieve absolute fairness, but at least we can't lose too badly.

Group Four used this dispute to make a strong statement to everyone, letting everyone know that they, Group Four, are not to be bullied.

However, even a nobody like myself was affected. Although I also wanted to dominate Jin Chen Capital, the reality of the workplace would not allow it.

...(End of chapter)