Chapter 75: Can't Help You Evade Taxes
Until dinner, Yun Qian ng tried to wrap up all her appointnts. She received email briefs from her executive staff and her phone had been filled with missed calls, notably quite a few from her biological mother.
She ignored the calls for the most part and concentrated on her work. Co dinner, she went out of the room and called the butler, who she now called Kevin. Yes, she was on a first-na basis with the butler who was, no doubt, adamant not to associate with her.
Mo Qingchen was already at the dining table, his laptop in front of him. He was typing at lightning speed and Qian ng was a little scared of sitting down across from him lest she disturbed his flow.
He paused mid-typing and looked up. "Give a couple of minutes." Qian ng nodded. The look in his eyes said that he was inspired. He took thirty more minutes and dinner was already served.
Qian ng had already finished dinner by the ti he was done.
"You're done already?" he asked, displeased.
"Did you want to wait around for you?" she asked in a bored voice.
"I thought you would be polite enough to do that, at least," he contradicted.
"Well, I am not. What were you working on?" she asked. That was what she was interested in.
"The cybersecurity software you know about. The estimated finishing date would have been two more years and then testing, but I think I am mostly done with it." His eyes sparkled.
"Why is it taking this long?" Qian ng asked, confused. Mo Qingchen was a go-getter and he jumped into things.
"There is nothing like it on the market and I need to make it perfect before it goes out into the world."
Qian ng frowned. "It's been a couple of years since you put out new software. You've been basically working on software updates than anything new." She paused and looked at him. "Is your perfectionist side not letting you put out what you have on your hand?"
Mo Qingchen shook his head. "It needs to be perfect to get out there."
"That is what software updates are for. Are you trying to compete with so image in your mind? You can perfect it with updates!" she fought.
"You don't know my company. If people get wind of this, they will produce it before . Just like you said that day. So I need to hush it up and make my technology irreplaceable."
Qian ng understood this. It was the need to beat the market. But in her field, it was easy to copy and put out.
"And with you doing the legwork, how long will you take?" She looked pointedly at the laptop. "I'll need a couple more months to finish processes and with testing, maybe a year."
"That's a long haul, but it cos with the industry, I suppose." She shrugged. "Consult for marketing, though," she teased. She didn't expect him to respond in kind.
"Maybe, I will. I took your advice into consideration about the design. My design team is very happy about this." He looked at her with intent. "Why are you so intent on marketing, though? You're a creative person."
"It's the sad truth of the world, Mo Qingchen. You're a creator, as well. But most people create because they want their art to be seen or consud. To do that, you need to market. No one gets famous for nothing. asured steps are taken to achieve that. In that sense, to fulfill the dream of artists and , I need to market my products and help them reach a maximum number of people." She thought about what she was saying next. "The whole working for exposure is bullshit. Money motivates artists. They can only continue to work and do what they love if they have money, so I try to make as much as I can."
He nodded in understanding. "Reminds of that scene from Wolf of Wall Street. The one about selling pens," he smirked.
"Exactly. What is successful marketing and sales? Knowing your custor and their needs. That's why so products do so well while others fail." She looked surreptitiously at her phone and flipped it over. The motion caught Mo Qingchen's eye.
"Soone's been calling you for a long ti and you have been avoiding it," he said matter-of-factly.
"You're interested in my private affairs," Qian ng retorted. "It's my mother."
"And you aren't on good terms." She nodded. "Pick it up and see what she wants. I doubt it is money. She'll probably ask you about the wedding or sothing. You can just say you aren't getting married and send her away."
"I hate talking to her," she replied blandly but also saw the wiseness of his words. She turned the phone and picked it up.
"Hello," she breathed into it. She hadn't spoken to her mother in a year or so. Her mother kept to herself and her imdiate family and had never really cared for Yun Qian ng. So, months went by before she would call. Qian ng had no expectations from her.
"Qian ng!" her mother replied, excitedly. "Why weren't you picking your phone?" she asked breathlessly.
"I was busy with etings. I am in Paris at the mont." She paused. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked imdiately.
"Right, I have twenty minutes before I go into surgery," Sun Li told her. "I have been getting calls from the bank and my financial advisor about sothing and I needed to talk to you about it."
"I can't help you evade taxes, mother," Qian ng grunted.
"Oh, no. It's sothing else." The words were waved away. "Rember I made you that minor's joint account when you ca to stay with during your sumr vacations?" she said.
Qian ng had to rember about that. Her sumr vacations during her teenage years hadn't been pleasant, so she didn't think much about it. "Yes?" she responded tentatively.
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