Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: What a Coincidence
Chapter 68: What a Coincidence
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Bo Yi persisted, saying, “We can also discuss collaboration.”
“….” Fang Yuan, however, was hesitant about teaming up with a top financial group on her very first day at work. To her, this seemed like a clear case of using connections. It was apparent to anyone with a discerning eye that something fishy was afoot.
Seeing her reluctance, Bo Yi made another attempt, “How about dinner tonight?”
Fang Yuan was growing increasingly exasperated, responding, “I already have plans for tonight, maybe another day.”
Bo Yi seemed surprised by her packed schedule, so he proposed, “What about tomorrow?”
Fang Yuan sighed and glanced at the time. She was running out of excuses, so she reluctantly agreed, “Fine, tomorrow.”
Bo Yi, sensing his small victory, added, “I’ll arrange transportation to and from work for you in the future.”
Fang Yuan issued a warning as she locked eyes with him, “Don’t try to take advantage of my goodwill.”
Bo Yi, undeterred, attempted to negotiate further, “How about a week then?”
Fang Yuan, realizing she had little choice, begrudgingly conceded, “Okay, a week.”
Bo Yi grinned, confident in his success, and remarked, “You’ve given me one week of your time.”
“Understood!” Fang Yuan finally exited the car and hurried into the company building.
Mu Qing, Bo’s long-time companion, observed his unusual behavior through the rear-view mirror. He couldn’t believe his eyes; was this still the same Master Bo he had known for years? It was almost as if he had been possessed by a ghost. This behavior was completely out of character. He had been by Master Bo’s side since the age of eight, a total of 14 years, and had never seen him pursue a woman so shamelessly before.
As Fang Yuan entered the company, her phone buzzed, and she answered, “Boss, it’s me,” on the line with Wu Di, the head of Fangyuan Capital Group’s operations in Hua Land.
“We have several investment projects that require your final approval. I’ll present them to you tonight, along with the quarterly reports,” Wu Di informed her.
“Alright then,” Fang Yuan said as she stepped into the elevator. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Shortly after ending the call, her phone vibrated once more. Fang Yuan noticed it was a message from Grandpa Qian.
“Hello, my dear. How have you been lately?”
“Grandpa Qian,” Fang Yuan replied as she settled into her office, pouring herself a cup of tea before dialing his number. “I’m doing well. Dad, Mom, and the rest of the family are all in good spirits. Why do you have time to call me today?”
“I was just missing you, my dear. Incidentally, my subordinates have just selected the top three participants in this year’s Piano Competition. They’ve mentioned that the quality of this year’s submissions is rather mediocre, so I thought I’d send them over for you to listen to.”
“Sure,” Fang Yuan agreed. She occasionally served as a judge in the competition, though she rarely took part in the preliminary selection. Her team typically handled that. The annual piano competition in Hua Land still existed, but fewer people participated these days, as many preferred to compete in international events.
“The first-place winner barely scraped by due to their family’s reputation, and the other submissions weren’t particularly impressive,” Grandpa Qian explained. “The second-place piece was decent, though it had some off-key moments in the latter part. I felt that it was unnecessarily embellished. As for the third-place entry… well, it’s probably best not to discuss it.”
“Alright, let me have a listen,” Fang Yuan replied. Although she wasn’t directly involved in the selection process, she was still curious about the competition’s current state and the emerging talents.
As Fang Yuan opened the audio clip sent by Grandpa Qian, she noticed the name Cheng Yuqi associated with the first-place entry. Cheng Yuqi in first place? The piece did sound quite ordinary.
She proceeded to the second submission and, to her surprise, found Fang Jiayi’s name attached to it. Oddly, the tune sounded somewhat familiar.
Fang Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle as she closed her computer, deciding not to continue listening.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the story,
Fang Liguo found himself in the lobby of Fangyuan Capital Group’s ground floor, his gaze firmly fixed on the elevator. He had been there since morning, waiting patiently until noon without taking a lunch break. Hunger gnawed at him, and he felt as if he might faint any moment. To his dismay, no one had invited him upstairs, not even offering a glass of water.
Growing increasingly impatient, he approached the front desk with a forced smile and inquired, “I apologize, but may I ask if President Wu has concluded his meeting? I’ve been waiting for quite some time now, and surely a meeting can’t last the entire day, can it?”
The front desk attendant, who had initially been more welcoming, had now become noticeably colder in her demeanor. She responded curtly, “I’m sorry, but President Wu is still occupied. Perhaps you could return on another day?”
With a humble tone, Fang Liguo pressed further, “Could you make an exception, please? I’ve been waiting since morning.”
“Our President Wu is indeed extremely busy,” the front desk attendant replied. Just as she finished her sentence, Wu Di emerged from the elevator. The front desk attendant promptly stood up, greeting her with utmost respect alongside her colleagues. “Hello, President Wu!”
Fang Liguo’s eyes lit up as he seized the opportunity. “President Wu, it’s me…” Finally having the chance to approach Wu Di, he tried to make a connection.
However, Special Assistant Liu intervened, extending his hand to block Fang Liguo. “I apologize, but President Wu has an important appointment to attend to.”
“Just give me five minutes…” Fang Liguo made a last-ditch effort to push forward. “I have something important to discuss with President Wu.”
Special Assistant Liu responded firmly, “I’m sorry, but President Wu is indeed very busy.”
“Special Assistant Liu, then could you please explain why President Wu has suddenly withdrawn from our cooperation?” Fang Liguo, no longer concerned about the situation, handed over the bank card he had previously wanted to give to Fang Yuan..