Jiang Wanyi remained calm and unruffled; their conversation seed peaceful on the surface, but the emotions and psychological clashes within it were like a silent war.
Regarding the sa man, they had completely different assessnts, with stark contrasts and differences. There was no right or wrong, just everyone viewing Cheng Qiaobei from their perspectives.
She only saw Cheng Qiaobei leaving but didn’t see that she was the one who let go first; it was her, Jiang Wanyi, who gave Cheng Qiaobei the final push.
In that brief exchange about the man, Chen Ningxi held the upper hand.
Jiang Wanyi saw Cheng Qiaobei coming in from outside and said to Chen Ningxi, "I hope you won’t mind our past relationship; now it’s just work."
Chen Ningxi smiled slightly, "It’s all in the past, I won’t be bothered by a rotten relationship, and neither should Miss Jiang dwell on it too much."
Her gaze revealed a kind of composure and calmness as if nothing in the world could shake her heart. It was a steadiness and determination honed by life’s trials, which made Jiang Wanyi feel a hard-to-describe sense of security, in addition to admiration.
She finally understood why Cheng Qiaobei chose her.
Cheng Qiaobei ca to the dining table, first observing Chen Ningxi’s expression. Seeing that her eyes were clear and her smile sweet, the two of them probably hadn’t had any unpleasant exchanges.
"Finished with work?" Chen Ningxi invited, "Just happened to run into Miss Jiang as well. Join us for dinner."
Cheng Qiaobei nodded to Jiang Wanyi, who replied, "I won’t intrude on your ti alone. My colleagues are waiting for ."
Not far away, Jiang Wanyi’s colleagues were seated around the table.
She said, "It was pleasant chatting with you. If I could stay longer in the country, I think we could beco friends."
Chen Ningxi said, "If you get a chance to co to Danjiang, be sure to call ."
Jiang Wanyi looked at Cheng Qiaobei and said, "You have good taste."
Cheng Qiaobei couldn’t help but smile, "That’s a given."
After she left, Cheng Qiaobei sat beside Chen Ningxi, "What did you order?"
Chen Ningxi listed the dishes, and soon they were served.
He kept helping Chen Ningxi with the dishes, caring for her in a considerate way. But Cheng Qiaobei was pondering; they must have talked about him earlier. How could he ask without seeming too obvious while still getting the answers he wanted?
Cheng Qiaobei gave her a piece of lamb, "If you like it, have more."
Chen Ningxi chewed slowly but guessed his thoughts.
While Cheng Qiaobei refilled her juice, Chen Ningxi took a sip and then dabbed her mouth with a napkin. Turning her face, she said,
"You want to know what we talked about?"
Cheng Qiaobei maintained an easygoing deanor, "What else could it be? Definitely about ."
"And then?" Chen Ningxi asked, half-smiling as she eyed him.
Feeling her gaze, Cheng Qiaobei took a sip of warm water, strategically pausing to consider how to continue the conversation.
Chen Ningxi didn’t let him guess randomly, and she began to talk on her own.
Speaking objectively, Chen Ningxi said, "I think she hasn’t figured sothing out. Maybe she’s been dwelling on it for years."
Cheng Qiaobei didn’t seem too concerned about what she said or whether Jiang Wanyi was entangled. What he cared about was Chen Ningxi’s mood, whether there was an undercurrent beneath her calm appearance.
He asked, "What do you think?"
Chen Ningxi said, "I didn’t think much. You’ve already told about the two of you, so there’s nothing surprising or upsetting. But I could sense so complicated feelings toward you in her heart."
Before she finished, Cheng Qiaobei interrupted, holding Chen Ningxi’s hand, saying, "I don’t care about her feelings. I only care if you’re angry, if you mind?"
Being valued, being cared for emotionally, made Chen Ningxi feel more secure in her heart.
She shook her head lightly, "No."
Cheng Qiaobei, "Really not?"
Chen Ningxi smiled wryly, "Why would I lie to you? Actually, she was worried that I might mind your relationship, explaining that it’s only professional between you two, telling not to overthink. I also told her that it’s all in the past and won’t dwell on a rotten relationship, advising her not to care too much about it."
Cheng Qiaobei only said one thing,
"As long as you don’t overthink."
Nothing else mattered.
At the nearby table, Jiang Wanyi saw the gentle gaze Cheng Qiaobei directed at Chen Ningxi. His eyes once held the brightest stars, now they only held her. Recalling that she once had such eyes, it was she who didn’t cherish them and let go.
So, when so things are not figured out, it’s oneself who feels the pain; once you do, everything becos clear.
Now eting him again, seeing him happy, there was more blessing for him in her heart.
"Do you have a eting this afternoon?" Chen Ningxi asked.
Cheng Qiaobei followed Chen Ningxi out of the restaurant, holding the door open, "eting at two."
"I’ll tidy up a bit and head back."
Cheng Qiaobei knew she would be very busy on Monday, "Alright, drive slowly, and give a call once you’re ho."
As Chen Ningxi pressed the elevator button, "By the ti I get ho, I bet your eting won’t be over. I’ll text you."
Cheng Qiaobei, "Okay." Then he added, "I’ll see if I can go back next week."
It would be good if he could co back, but it wasn’t pressing if he couldn’t. After all, they were both young and at a rising stage in their careers, especially Cheng Qiaobei, who was at a critical mont. Tiwise, he needed more consideration, focusing more on his career.
Cheng Qiaobei sent off Chen Ningxi and headed straight to the eting room.
In the corridor, he ran into Wei Lai coming over with docunts. She asked, "She went ho?"
"Yes."
"Why not stay a few more days?"
Cheng Qiaobei said, "Monday is hectic in the electric power business. If she’s not there, the complaints can flood the phone lines."
Imagining the situation at Chen Ningxi’s workplace and the nature of her job, it was indeed quite different from the hotel industry.
"Let take those." Cheng Qiaobei took the docunts from Wei Lai’s hand. After a week, the reports he needed to prepare were already as thick as his palm.
Wei Lai had just pushed open the eting room door when the elevator doors opened in the hallway. Jiang Wanyi and her team filed out from inside.
The two groups t, nodding to greet each other.
Today, Cheng Qiaobei wore a dark suit, exuding the poise and confidence of a mature man. His hotel managent experience and extensive networking resources had been hard-earned over the years. eting the innovative and execution-capable Jiang Wanyi, although they were old acquaintances, stepping onto the negotiation table, both were fighting for their business interests. It was also a test of their own strengths, as they needed to find common ground to make this collaboration a win-win situation.
Cheng Qiaobei, with his rich industry experience, proposed many practical suggestions. Jiang Wanyi, with her keen market insight, injected new vitality into the collaboration.
They nodded in agreent with each other’s points from ti to ti. As ti passed, the frawork for collaboration gradually beca clear. They decided to jointly create a high-end hotel brand, leveraging each other’s advantageous resources to enhance market competitiveness.
They also planned to engage in in-depth collaboration in areas like talent cultivation and service quality.
On Cheng Xiangheng’s desk sat two reports on overseas hotel collaborations, one from Cheng Qiaobei and another from an anonymous source.
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