People often like to linger between tenderness and pause, the forr leading you into the ga, the latter ssing with your mind.
Chen Ningxi wasn’t the type to lower her intelligence just because she encountered love; he thought she was unknowingly being lured into the ga, but he also overlooked one thing, Chen Ningxi was an emotionally stable woman solely focused on her career.
Those who knelt for long before the God of Wealth Temple but ignored the Marriage Temple were mostly won like her.
Cheng Qiaobei waited all day and still didn’t get a call back from Chen Ningxi. He considered this round lost today.
The next ti they t was at the annual eting.
Cheng Qiaobei began inspecting the reception work for the annual eting early in the morning, from setting up the venue to arranging flower baskets. Because of the heavy snow in Danjiang in the previous days, Cheng Qiaobei specifically hired two snowplows to thoroughly clear the roads leading to the hotel, aiming to provide a better service experience in the details for the guests attending the annual eting.
The annual eting started at one in the afternoon. Chen Ningxi arrived at the Zhoushan Hotel an hour in advance. As soon as the car stopped in the hotel parking lot, Cheng Qiaobei saw her from the second-floor corridor window and hurried downstairs to find her.
There was a person at the entrance on the first floor responsible for putting wrist flowers and bracelets on the guests attending the annual eting; female guests wore wrist flowers, and male guests wore bracelets. The wrist flowers were made of pure white jasmine, and Cheng Qiaobei invited ten florists from nearby flower shops to handcraft them on the spot, paired with light green ribbons. The wrist flowers were fragrant, enveloping the fingertips, and many female guests adored them.
Before Chen Ningxi entered the hall, Cheng Qiaobei rushed to the reception area. Standing beside a large backdrop for the power company annual eting reception, he pretended to help the florists.
Chen Ningxi spotted Cheng Qiaobei in the crowd and casually walked over, only to find the florists surrounded by people.
Cheng Qiaobei said to her, "Miss, please co this way."
Chen Ningxi walked up to Cheng Qiaobei, and the two faced each other like strangers without even exchanging a word.
Chen Ningxi asked, "Do you know how to do it?"
Cheng Qiaobei replied concisely, "Yes."
Skeptically, Chen Ningxi extended her hand; her slender wrist was as white as snow, the veins visible beneath the thin skin.
He was already holding a wrist flower in his hand. Carefully, he fastened it onto her wrist, slightly bent over, tying it ticulously. Without realizing it, Chen Ningxi’s cheeks grew warm.
She suddenly noticed that her wrist flower seed different from the others, brimming with jasmine flowers.
Cheng Qiaobei released his hand, straightening up, "All done."
Chen Ningxi: "Thank you."
Just as she was about to leave, she heard soone beside her asking, "What does jasmine symbolize?"
The florist said, "Giving you jasmine, may you never part."
"This year, the company sure is creative. Don’t worry, I struggled to get into the power system, and I definitely won’t leave."
This remark brought about laughter among the colleagues.
Chen Ningxi paused for a mont, glanced down at the wrist flower, and then strode into the main hall of the annual eting.
Watching her departing figure, Cheng Qiaobei’s gaze deepened.
The half-hour entry ti concluded, and most people had arrived. Soone was responsible for reiterating the eting rules before the leaders’ speeches.
Chen Ningxi, as a representative of the new generation, took to the stage. When she stood up there, Cheng Qiaobei watched her from afar.
"Hello to all the leaders and colleagues. At the end of the year, we power people gather here. I wish all our power family mbers a happy New Year, success in our endeavors, and, also, safety and smoothness.
I thank all my colleagues at the Danjiang Institute who fought alongside this year for their company, dedication, and support. I’m also grateful to the Northeast Power leaders for their correct guidance and help at work, and thank the State Grid for giving a platform to realize my value and set life goals.
During our work, our institute was the vanguard, the frontline power people. We faced difficulties, and we were tested, but difficulties and tests did not defeat any of our comrades at Danjiang Institute. Instead, through these trials, our business capabilities and technical skills were further solidified, making more hopeful and responsible for the future, and our team’s cohesion is unbreakable.
This year, with Manager Bai’s cooperation and the steady progress of all departnts, we paved a new path of developnt for the Danjiang Institute, allowing to experience the spirit of legacy at Danjiang Institute once again. Challenges never end, and research never stops. For the city’s lights and millions of families’ safety, we power people must produce safely at all tis and ensure safety every mont. Finally, may our State Grid’s career flourish further."
Chen Ningxi bowed deeply, the applause thunderous from below the stage. Yet on the side, Cheng Qiaobei clicked his tongue, "Didn’t notice, little Chen was good at rhetoric, really knows how to talk officialese."
Three candidates, only Chen Ningxi took the stage to deliver a speech; it wasn’t hard to decipher the aning behind it.
The next hour featured performances by various branches, laughter and applause ca in waves. Chen Ningxi saw Danjiang Institute’s Thousand-Hand Guan Yin and felt relieved for not having to participate this year.
The lottery segnt was her favorite. Last year, the first prize was a rather malicious one, a photo with the general manager, the second prize was the latest Huawei phone, third prize was a laptop, even the consolation prize was a 200-yuan cash red envelope. Watching the colleague who won the first prize forcing a bitter smile while taking the photo with the general manager was quite heartbreaking.
Chen Ningxi luckily won the consolation prize, standing on stage, holding up a big red envelope, and posing for a group photo with others, realizing that Cheng Qiaobei was not far away taking her picture.
After getting off stage, Chen Ningxi ssaged Cheng Qiaobei.
Chen Ningxi, "Delete the photo."
north, "What photo?"
Chen Ningxi, "Don’t pretend. I saw you taking pictures of just now."
north, "You saw wrong. I was photographing the entire venue to share future on-site effects."
Chen Ningxi, "Lies."
north, "Don’t believe it? Co check."
Chen Ningxi, "Where are you?"
north, "Lobby."
When nobody was watching, Chen Ningxi snuck out bent over, but was caught by Bai Haifeng, "It’s almost over, where are you going?"
"I’m going to the restroom."
"Be back soon."
"Okay."
The venue had four doors. As she pushed one open, she ran into Li Xiangnan and Li Zhijie, catching the tail end of their conversation, but she was sure her na was ntioned. Both of their faces shared identical looks of embarrassnt and shock, clearly indicating they were talking about her behind her back.
Chen Ningxi originally planned to pretend nothing happened, just greet them and move on. But Li Xiangnan couldn’t let it go, feeling indignant that what he had arranged through soone else was undermined by Chen Ningxi behind the scenes. Even if he didn’t want to confront her directly, he had to at least make a pointed remark.
"Mr. Chen truly stole the spotlight today," Li Xiangnan said snidely, "No one spoke as well as you."
The people who spoke before her were either group executives or managers from various branches, so saying she was better was really a backhanded complint.
Even if Li Xiangnan was being sarcastic, it wasn’t very appropriate to openly have a fallout in such an atmosphere, so he could only subtly jab back.
Chen Ningxi remained calm, her tone peaceful and steady.
"You’re teasing , Li. It’s not about levels. You’ve entered the power sector earlier than , and you’re more senior in terms of experience. It should’ve been you up there, not . But you know our institute’s situation as well. Manager Bai doesn’t like reading scripts. Even I struggled to morize such a long speech. Out of plans, I was pushed to go. How could I just decline and not give face to the leadership? Frankly speaking, I even forgot a couple of lines, didn’t you notice?"
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