Volume 1, Chapter 23: Sitting on His Lap

Qiao Nian’an took the subway to work. Upon returning to the office, Shen Niwu immediately sidled up to her.

"Niwu," Qiao Nian’an said, "I’m going to resign."

Shen Niwu couldn't comprehend it, thinking she was hearing a joke early in the morning. "Nian’an, have you lost your mind? You’re the legal representative of the company now, and you’re just going to quit? If you leave, what are the rest of us and all these old colleagues supposed to do—starve? If you go, President Fu will surely shut the whole place down..."

President Fu’s car was already parked downstairs. A man as busy as President Fu, who handled projects worth billions with ease, why would he come to this pathetic little company every day? Wasn't it all for Qiao Nian’an? If she ran off, they would all face unemployment.

"Nian’an, the job market is terrible right now. If it weren't for President Fu acquiring this company, it would have gone under long ago. If everyone here were to leave, they’d find it extremely difficult to land new jobs..."

Hearing that Qiao Nian’an intended to resign, the others grew anxious about their own livelihoods and joined in to persuade her.

"That’s right, Boss Qiao! We’ll generate revenue for the company; we’ll definitely strive to make one billion for you this year so you can easily pay off your debts!"

"Exactly, Nian’an, at least stay until you’ve earned that billion," Shen Niwu urged. "Opportunities like this don’t come twice. Let’s focus on our careers and making money. You’re single, so you need to save up even more. Look at me—I’m a living example that money is far more reliable than men. If you quit now, where else could you find such a good job?"

"I read that contract. It’s written in black and white that all revenue generated by the company belongs to you. So, we’re all going to work together to help you earn enough to clear your debts!"

Qiao Nian’an was instantly swayed by their words. She thought to herself that as long as she kept her children hidden well enough, it would be fine. She just had to make sure they never crossed paths with Fu Yunzhen. And even if they did, she could always deny it. After all, years ago, his own mother had personally supervised her medical abortion.

With this thought, Qiao Nian’an stopped fretting over being in the same space as Fu Yunzhen. Making money was more important for now, and she would use Fu Yunzhen to help her do just that. Since he was handing the resources to her on a silver platter, she would be a fool not to take advantage of them.

"Miss Qiao, President Fu would like to see you in his office," Assistant Lin said, walking up to her with a respectful bow.

"Nian’an, go quickly!" Shen Niwu pushed her forward. "You can’t quit; we’re all counting on you to survive."

"Fine..." Qiao Nian’an set aside her thoughts of resigning.

Qiao Nian’an took a deep breath and followed Assistant Lin to the office. Assistant Lin did not enter; he opened the door for her and gestured for her to go in alone. As she stepped inside, he closed the door behind her.

"President Fu, did you want to see me?"

Fu Yunzhen was busy arranging items on the table. She walked over and saw it was Hong Kong-style dim sum—every dish was something she loved.

"Sit down first and have some morning tea." Seeing her enter, Fu Yunzhen wiped his hands with a handkerchief, walked over to her, pulled her into a seat, and poured her a cup of Pu-erh tea. It was her favorite. "Everything here is what you like."

Fu Yunzhen still remembered her preferences. Looking at the massive desk covered in dozens of dim sum dishes, she felt a sudden surge of emotion. She hadn't had dim sum in six years. She had tried several times to take her mother and children to a teahouse, but her mother would always refuse, citing how hard Qiao Nian’an worked to earn money. She knew her mother didn't have many hobbies; she just loved getting up early, waiting in line at the restaurant for it to open, and picking a table by the floor-to-ceiling windows, hoping one day her husband and children would join her for a happy family breakfast. They had a cook at home who could make dim sum, but it just wasn't the same atmosphere. They missed the authentic teahouse experience.

"Try this siu mai; the shrimp is very fresh." Fu Yunzhen placed a piece in her bowl.

Qiao Nian’an looked down at the siu mai, her nose stinging. "Can I pack these up to take home?" She wanted her mother to taste them too. For the past six years, they had lived on a shoestring budget and were truly terrified of being poor. Having been born with a silver spoon, she had never known what poverty felt like—until those six years, when she tasted the full bitterness of life. Debt collectors had harassed her incessantly, calling her phone and showing up at her door. She hadn't had a single night of peaceful sleep.

But lately, it seemed no one had come to collect. Perhaps the time hadn't come yet.

"No need to pack them. If you want to eat them, I’ll have the chef make them for you every day," Fu Yunzhen said.

The first time he had ever had dim sum, it was because Qiao Nian’an had taken him. She had booked a private room and ordered a table full of lavish dishes. It was the first time he realized that some people were so particular about breakfast—the meal had cost over two thousand yuan.

Qiao Nian’an was suddenly moved to tears; the words he said were the exact ones she had once said to him when she took him to that restaurant. Back then, seeing he couldn't finish the food and wanted to pack it up, she had told him, "No need to pack it. If you want to eat it, I’ll have my home chef make it and bring it to school for you."

"Why are you crying over breakfast? Are you touched by me?" Fu Yunzhen picked up a clean handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face. "If you're touched, then get back together with me and give yourself to me."

"Don't wipe so hard, I just put on my makeup this morning..." Qiao Nian’an could clearly feel him scrubbing away her cosmetics.

Fu Yunzhen looked displeased. "Your makeup looks good, I see it, but now it can be wiped off."

Yet, once the makeup was gone, she revealed a different kind of ethereal beauty—one that caught Fu Yunzhen completely off guard. No matter what version of Qiao Nian’an it was, she was always so beautiful, so captivating. Without makeup, she looked pure and transcendent, possessing an "innocent first love" face that no man could resist falling for.

Qiao Nian’an frowned. "I didn't put on makeup for you to see... don't be so conceited!"

"I already ate breakfast before coming to the office," she said, preparing to stand up and leave.

"Then sit and keep me company; I haven't eaten yet." Fu Yunzhen gripped her wrist and pulled her onto his lap, his deep, phoenix-like eyes locked intently onto her.