Chapter Forty-Nine: Does This Count as a Date?

Yongan Tower, a high-end office building, boasts convenient transportation and complete infrastructure. Situated in the city’s central business district, it enjoys comprehensive administrative support and a distinctive architectural style. Its fifty-five floors make it one of the landmark buildings in the northern district of Jinghua City. Those who come and go here are well-dressed, refined professionals; it is a place many aspire to. Regardless of a company’s size—though most don’t own their own office buildings—simply stating they’re located in Yongan Tower gives them an air of superiority over their peers. Its status is reminiscent of Taipei 101.

Zhongtian Import and Export Company, established four years ago, was originally an inconspicuous small business. Thanks to the tea industry’s immense profitability and the booming tea market at the time, Zhongtian grew rapidly, and at the peak a year ago, moved from a low-grade office building into Yongan Tower. Yet, who would have thought that in just one year, Lin Xiaolei and her Zhongtian Company would be plunged into crisis due to funding issues? Over ten million yuan was absconded by a trusted friend, bank loans hung in the balance, and foreign buyers hesitated, compounding Zhongtian’s misfortune.

News of Zhongtian’s difficulties quickly spread among competitors. However, with Wang Zheng’s orchestration of a certain “scene” and the establishment of a cooperative relationship, the rumors about Zhongtian’s predicament vanished overnight. So, when Lin Xiaolei posted Zhongtian Import and Export Company’s recruitment announcement online and at talent markets, she received over a hundred responses in just one day. It’s much like Taipei—who would refuse an opportunity to work in Taipei 101?

As the end of the workday approached, Wang Zheng received a call from Su Xue. She would be late tonight because the evening news segment was hers again. Wang Zheng had originally planned to beat Su Xue home to cook, so she wouldn’t have another chance to “show off her skills,” but now he needn’t worry about dinner.

He glanced up at Lin Xiaolei, who was busy jotting notes, and snapped his fingers.

“Snap!”

“How about having dinner together after work?” Wang Zheng asked, gazing at her. It hardly seemed gentlemanly to let such a beautiful woman spend a splendid evening alone.

Lin Xiaolei looked at Wang Zheng. Faced with his expectant gaze and smile, she found no reason to refuse.

“Oh, alright!”

Bai Bing’s ears perked up, and she suddenly turned, glaring fiercely at Wang Zheng. He was unfazed; such reactions had become routine. In fact, if Bai Bing didn’t shoot him a few dagger looks, he might even feel uneasy. She leaned in, and in a voice only the two could hear, whispered, “You still haven’t treated me to dinner.”

Wang Zheng looked at her. By now, he was well-versed in handling women like Bai Bing. He smiled lazily and replied, “It’s always the subordinates currying favor with their leaders, never the other way around.”

“I’m your partner, not your subordinate!” Bai Bing retorted.

“Who was it that said she wanted to be my secretary?” Wang Zheng said with a grin. “Wasn’t it you?”

“I…” Bai Bing was momentarily speechless, unable to come up with a reply. She knew if she pressed the issue, Wang Zheng would dredge up old grievances—after all, it was her “tied-up application” that had led him to suffer repeated setbacks on the job hunt. Bai Bing had learned her lesson and simply stayed by Wang Zheng’s side, saying nothing; her legs were her own, and she could follow them to dinner.

Lin Xiaolei tapped away at her keyboard, then suddenly paused, pondering for a moment. She turned to Wang Zheng and said, “I’ve received over a hundred emails and selected thirty-one candidates with better qualifications. I’ve invited them for interviews tomorrow. Do you think there’s anything else I should pay attention to?”

Her voice was pleasant and calm, and combined with her earnest work ethic and attitude of inquiry, she seemed more suitable as Wang Zheng’s secretary than Bai Bing. In fact, Wang Zheng appeared more like the boss here.

“Just do it your way,” Wang Zheng replied. He had experience with killing, but recruiting? He’d rather let Lin Xiaolei handle it herself. Besides, Zhongtian’s predicament wasn’t her fault; the fact she grew the company from a small operation to a firm capable of holding its own in Jinghua proved she had managerial ability.

...

Whether it counts as a date when two single people dine in an elegant setting is debatable, but uninvited additions to such a meal are certainly third wheels. At this moment, Bai Bing played that role—no, she was more like a glaring incandescent lamp.

Since time immemorial, dates have been the stage for men and women to display their finest acting skills: women feigning elegance, men acting unfettered, so each can be the other’s Snow White or Prince Charming.

“Do you think…this counts as a date?” Before the dishes arrived, Wang Zheng suddenly asked Lin Xiaolei, who was sipping tea across from him.

Lin Xiaolei was caught off guard. The tea she hadn’t had time to savor slipped hurriedly down her throat. She looked at Wang Zheng’s bright, burning eyes, and her cheeks flushed instantly.

“I…I don’t know.”

She neither denied nor confirmed, the ambiguity making the answer all the more intriguing.

Seeing Wang Zheng’s “lecherous smile,” Bai Bing snorted, “Wishful thinking!” She seemed to have made teasing Wang Zheng her personal amusement, endlessly seeking new opportunities.

“Hmm?” Wang Zheng wasn’t offended. Instead, he feigned surprise and looked at Bai Bing, asking, “Miss, who are you…?” His gaze was filled with confusion, as if he’d never seen her before—despite their morning squabbles over the bathroom, now they were strangers.

“Don’t mind me, I’m just here for a free meal. Carry on with your conversation,” Bai Bing replied with a smile, flaunting her presence. To hear such words from the lips of a stunning beauty, and with such unabashed confidence…truly, appearances can be deceiving.

Wang Zheng didn’t want to quarrel with Bai Bing in front of Lin Xiaolei—it would only tarnish his shining image. So he simply ignored Bai Bing and looked at Lin Xiaolei. “Now that it’s just us, let’s talk about something besides work.”

Besides work…what else? Lin Xiaolei looked puzzled. She glanced at Wang Zheng, then at Bai Bing. Indeed, there were questions in her heart, but she wasn’t sure if this was the right time to ask, hesitating inwardly.

“Are you wondering about the relationship between me and Secretary Bai?” Wang Zheng had already noticed Lin Xiaolei’s uncertainty. Seeing her hesitance, he directly voiced her unspoken question. He always liked to help beautiful women out of awkward situations, as if he were Zorro tying his belt over his eyes.

Secretary Bai? Lin Xiaolei glanced at Bai Bing and then lowered her head in tacit acknowledgment.

“It’s simple. She’s a woman who wants something from me, but I’ve seen through her motives. So she’s left with no choice but to shamelessly tag along, hoping to pressure me with her persistence. In truth, there’s nothing between us at all,” Wang Zheng explained to Lin Xiaolei.

As Wang Zheng had said before, Lin Xiaolei was beautiful, gentle, kind, and capable—a woman any man would be drawn to. From the moment he first saw her in the bar, radiant yet tinged with sorrow, he’d marked her as a subject for observation.

For a woman to be included in Wang Zheng’s list of those worth observing, she must possess exceptional qualities. Yet she remained only an object of observation, awaiting further contact, study, and understanding. Once the object became the target, that would be Wang Zheng’s moment to act.

For now, Wang Zheng simply admired Lin Xiaolei. Of course, occasionally teasing this shy woman was a source of delight.