aircannonsinc Chapter 32: She's not someone you can step on.
Chapter 32: She's not someone you can step on.
That evening, Ye Rong was working overtime in the president's office of Shengyuan Group when she received Yu Chen's message.
The office building was deserted on Sunday, with only the sound of keyboards being typed and computer towers humming.
She stared at her phone screen for a full three seconds, then a surge of joy welled up inside her.
Become!
Yu Chen actually sent me the hotel address on his own initiative!
But the next second, she froze.
Central Intercity Hotel... Five-star, prime location.
8 PM.
Although Yu Chen's information did not specify that she had to come alone, she could guess that.
If she dares to bring people, their conversation tonight will fall apart.
Ye Rong's finger hovered above the screen, hesitant to reply.
She wasn't some fresh-out-of-school girl; her family had enjoyed a period of prosperity before their downfall. She knew exactly what occasions to attend, who to meet, and what to say.
Something about Yu Chen's message was off.
But the pressure from Sheng Xingjie was still there.
I must arrange to have dinner with Yu Chen within three days; today is the second day.
Ye Rong bit her lip, took a screenshot, and carefully sent it to Sheng Xingjie: "President Sheng, Engineer Yu has asked me to meet him tonight at the Central Intercity Hotel. What do you think..."
Less than a minute after the message was sent, Sheng Xingjie called.
"Great news!" The voice on the other end of the phone was filled with excitement. "He asked you out, which means there's a chance! Go, you absolutely have to go!"
"But President Sheng..." Ye Rong lowered her voice, somewhat hesitant to speak, "He asked me to meet him in a hotel room, and it's evening..."
"What are you thinking!" Sheng Xingjie interrupted her directly. "What would someone like Yu Chen have feelings for you? If he really wanted to find a woman, would he have waited until now? He's testing our sincerity!"
He paused, his tone turning serious: "Ye Rong, I don't care what methods you use, you must win Yu Chen over tonight. Whatever conditions he wants, as long as they're not excessive, we can discuss them, but you must win him over."
"I understand." Ye Rong took a deep breath. "Then... what do I need to prepare?"
"Ready?" Sheng Xingjie sneered. "Ready your brain. Yu Chen is a tech genius, not the kind of rich kid who'll be swayed by sweet talk. Talk to him about technology, prospects, and win-win situations. As for the rest..."
He lowered his voice: "If it's really necessary, it's not impossible, but remember, don't mess things up."
The phone hangs up.
Ye Rong held her phone, her palms damp with sweat.
Leaving Shengyuan is not something she can handle right now.
Other companies would conduct background checks, and her boss, Sheng Xingjie, certainly wouldn't have anything nice to say about her.
Ye Rong stared at the message Yu Chen sent for a very long time.
Finally, she replied: Okay, Mr. Yu, I'll be right there.
When she pressed the send button, she felt her hands trembling slightly.
---
8:50 PM, lobby of the Central Intercity Hotel.
Yu Chen sent the room number.
Ye Rong wore a well-fitting beige suit with an overcoat, and her face was made up with delicate light makeup. Her hair was neatly tied back.
She stood at the elevator entrance, looking at her seemingly composed yet actually anxious reflection in the mirror, and took a deep breath.
The elevator ascends, and the numbers change.
Her heart started racing.
Ding~ The elevator has arrived.
The corridor was covered with a thick carpet, and her high heels landed silently on it.
After finding the room number, Ye Rong straightened her collar again in front of the door, put the gas bag from her bag into the side pocket of her coat, and only after she was ready did she raise her hand to knock on the door.
The door opened quickly.
Yu Chen stood at the door, dressed in a simple gray sweater and black trousers, holding a tablet computer in his hand, looking like he had just finished work.
He looked Ye Rong up and down, then stepped aside: "Come in."
The room is an executive suite with a spacious living room and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of Shanghai's dazzling nightscape.
The room was well-heated, and Ye Rong hung her coat on the coat rack next to the TV.
Several documents were scattered on the coffee table, along with a half-finished cup of coffee.
"Sit down." Yu Chen pointed to the sofa, then sat down in the single chair opposite him, casually putting the tablet aside.
Ye Rong sat down as instructed, placing her hands folded on her knees, her posture as perfect as if she were attending a job interview.
The black stockings appeared white under the room's lights.
"What would you like to drink?" Yu Chen asked.
"No need, thank you, Mr. Yu." Ye Rong tried to keep her voice calm. "You asked me to come over tonight... is there something you want to discuss?"
Yu Chen did not answer immediately.
He leaned back in his chair, looking calmly at Ye Rong with an expression that seemed to be scrutinizing or assessing her.
Ye Rong admitted that she was a little flustered.
Although Yu Chen was not bad-looking, she still had Zhuang Xu on her mind.
After a long silence, Yu Chen finally spoke: "Miss Ye, how many years have you worked at Shengyuan?"
"Half a year," Ye Rong replied. "I joined the president's office at Shengyuan after graduation."
"Pretty good." Yu Chen nodded. "Being able to directly follow Sheng Xingjie shows that you're quite capable."
"Mr. Yu, you flatter me." Ye Rong smiled. "It's mainly because President Sheng was willing to give me the opportunity."
"Opportunities are earned." Yu Chen picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and said, "Just like what Miss Ye is doing now, she's even willing to come to the hotel alone at night to meet clients in order to seize opportunities."
The implication in those words made Ye Rong's smile freeze for a moment.
She straightened her back and spoke as professionally as possible: "Mr. Yu, I'm here tonight on behalf of President Sheng and Shengyuan Group to express our sincerity. You may have some misunderstandings about me personally, but I hope..."
"Misunderstanding?" Yu Chen put down his cup and interrupted her. "Ms. Ye, is that photo you posted on your WeChat Moments, along with the caption, also a misunderstanding?"
Ye Rong's face turned pale.
She didn't expect Yu Chen to bring this up directly.
She deleted that post on WeChat Moments not long after it was published, but Yu Chen clearly saw it.
"I...I was just joking," she tried to explain. "I didn't mean any harm."
"Whether there was malice or not, you know it yourself." Yu Chen's voice was calm, yet carried a sense of pressure. "Ms. Ye, I don't care what you think of me personally. But Nie Xiguang is not someone you should be targeting."
Ye Rong clenched her fingers so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
"Mr. Yu, if you are angry about this, I apologize." She lowered her head. "I will not post similar content again."
"You're not apologizing to me," Yu Chen said, looking at her. "The person you should be apologizing to isn't me."
The room quieted down, with only the faint noise of the city outside the window.
Ye Rong lowered her head, her mind racing.
She realized that tonight's meeting was probably not as simple as discussing cooperation.
Yu Chen was standing up for Nie Xiguang.
However, this also relieved her.
"I understand." She looked up, her professional smile returning to her face. "I will find an opportunity to apologize to Ms. Nie. And Mr. Yu, regarding President Sheng's desire to collaborate with you..."
"Sheng Xingjie wants to win me over simply to have more leverage within Shengyuan," Yu Chen said bluntly. "But I don't like being a pawn."
He paused, then continued, "Of course, if Sheng Yuan really values my technology, we can talk about cooperation."
"But the premise is equal cooperation, not using me as a tool."
"President Sheng is absolutely acting with the utmost sincerity..."
"Sincerity isn't just about words," Yu Chen interrupted her. "Ms. Ye, go back and tell Sheng Xingjie that if he really wants to cooperate, he should come up with a concrete plan."
"I need to see written agreements regarding the proportion of technology-based equity investment, the budget for R&D investment, and the authority to form teams."
He stood up, walked to the French windows, and turned his back to Ye Rong: "As for you, Miss Ye, how you climb the corporate ladder is your business, but don't drag Nie Xiguang into it. She's different from you; she doesn't need to step on others to prove herself."
These words were like a slap in the face, landing hard on Ye Rong's cheek.
Her face flushed red and then turned pale; her lips moved, but she couldn't say anything.
"And another thing," Yu Chen turned around, his eyes sharp, "don't try any tricks on me in the future. Your so-called connections and resources are worthless to me. I want to see the real deal."
He walked back to the coffee table, picked up the tablet, and said, "That's enough for tonight. You can go now."
The order to leave was given swiftly and decisively.
Ye Rong stood up stiffly, her fingers gripping the chain of her handbag tightly.
She wanted to say something more, but when she met Yu Chen's calm and unwavering eyes, all the words stuck in her throat.
"Well... Mr. Yu, I'll be going now." She managed to maintain her last shred of dignity. "I will relay your words to President Sheng truthfully."
Yu Chen nodded and simply watched her go.
Ye Rong practically fled the room.
The moment the door closed behind her, she leaned against the wall in the corridor and let out a long breath.
Humiliation, embarrassment, and a lingering fear intertwined, making her legs feel weak.
She took out her phone, looked at Sheng Xingjie's number, hesitated for a long time, and then dialed it.
"President Sheng, I've finished meeting with Yu Chen." Her voice was a little dry.
"How did it go? What did he say?" Sheng Xingjie asked anxiously.
Ye Rong bit her lip and simply repeated Yu Chen's words, omitting the parts that were directed at her personally.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.
"This kid... he's pretty tough." Sheng Xingjie's voice was unreadable. "Fine, he wants a written agreement, so give it to him. Ye Rong, you start preparing the cooperation plan tomorrow, and include all the conditions I told you last time."
"But Mr. Sheng, Yu Chen clearly favors Shuang Yuan's side..."
"That's why we have to bet big!" Sheng Xingjie interrupted her. "Ye Rong, let me tell you, we absolutely have to acquire Yu Chen. My dad said that if his technology succeeds, Jiekai's position in the new energy sector will skyrocket—that's real, tangible results!"
He paused, his tone turning cold: "As for Lin Yusen... Hmph, the old man's favoritism isn't new. This time, I'm determined to prove him wrong."
"I understand," Ye Rong replied softly.
"Good that you understand," Sheng Xingjie said. "If you handle this well, you'll definitely get a promotion at the end of the year, but if you mess it up..."
He didn't finish speaking, but Ye Rong understood.
After hanging up the phone, Ye Rong stood in the empty corridor, looking at the bustling night view outside the window, and suddenly felt a chill.
She took out her powder compact to touch up her makeup, straightened her back, and walked towards the elevator in her high heels.
As the elevator descended, her delicate face was reflected in the mirror. Looking at herself, she suddenly remembered Yu Chen's words—
"She's different from you; she doesn't need to step on others to prove herself."
Ye Rong twitched the corners of her mouth, revealing a self-deprecating smile.
Yes, Nie Xiguang is different.
Having a good father means you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth.
But what about Ye Rong?
Having fought my way out of a small county town and finally gotten into Shengyuan, I still have to be mindful of others' moods, read their thoughts, and even...
The elevator doors opened.
Some differences are predetermined from the moment of birth.
All she could do was desperately climb upwards.
Even if it means stepping on others.
---
In the hotel room, Yu Chen stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.
He took out his phone and sent Nie Xiguang a message: "Are you asleep?"
She replied quickly: "Not yet. What about you? Back at the hotel?"
"Hmm. What time is my high-speed train tomorrow?"
"8 a.m. And you?"
"I won't be back until this afternoon. I need to meet up with Mr. Hua then."
"Oh...then you should get some rest."
Yu Chen looked at the message and a smile appeared on his lips.
He thought for a moment, then sent another message: "What I said today was serious."
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
"I know."
"So how long does the reservist assessment take?"
"...It depends on your performance."
"How should I behave?"
This time, it took a long time for him to reply: "Yu Chen, I'm actually... a little scared."
Yu Chen frowned slightly as he looked at the words. He immediately dialed the number.
It rang three times before being answered.
"Feed?" Nie Xiguang's voice was very soft.
"What are you afraid of?" Yu Chen asked directly.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.
"I'm afraid we're...moving too fast," Nie Xiguang said softly. "I'm also afraid...I'm not actually that good. You see, I'm not good at my job, I can't handle interpersonal relationships well, and I'm always causing you trouble..."
"Xi Guang," Yu Chen interrupted her, "you're very good."
"But..."
"No buts." Yu Chen's voice was steady. "Whether you do your job well or not isn't up to you to decide. You've organized the data in the archives better than anyone else, you discovered the problems in the purchasing department, and as for interpersonal relationships..."
He paused for a moment: "Living authentically will inevitably offend people; you don't need everyone to like you."
Nie Xiguang didn't speak, but Yu Chen could hear her soft breathing.
"And," he continued, "I'm happy to accept the trouble you've caused me."
A soft chuckle came from the other end of the phone, very soft, but Yu Chen heard it.
"Yu Chen," Nie Xiguang's voice softened, "could you... come to the high-speed rail station to see me off tomorrow?"
"Yes," Yu Chen said without hesitation. "I'll take you to the station."
"Okay," she said. "Then... goodnight."
"Good night."
After hanging up the phone, Yu Chen stood there for a while before turning around and walking towards his desk.
The tablet's screen was still lit, displaying materials from Wednesday's technical demonstration.
He sat down and went back to work.
Just then, the doorbell rang again.