6 Former Boss (1/2)

Chen Zheng, the son of the SMQ Chairman and the General Manager of SMQ, had unexplainable anxiety these days.

At that moment, his right eyelid was twitching for no reason.

He didn't believe in any Feng Shui omens, but he trusted his instincts. It was around twilight and the light from the streetlamps shined through the window. Everything felt calm and warm, giving the illusion of peace and prosperity. He leaned back in his executive chair, closed his eyes, and began reviewing in his mind the big events that had taken place these past few days.

The Carcinogen Scandal was, of course, the most critical one, but it wouldn't be so bad. Nobody was a fool in this industry. It was obvious that first, the law usually couldn't be enforced when were too many offenders, and second, consumers would easily forget things. As long as they kept calm and waited until the storm passed over, consumers would come back to buy what they wanted and their sales would return to normal.

The procurement project with the domestically-renowned Ming Sheng Group was going well. Despite the presence of their strong competitor, New Bori, he was determined to get the bigger order. As for Aida? Chen Zheng would have treated them as the biggest competitor in the past, but now… he chuckled mischievously to himself.

What have I missed?

Thinking for a while, he called his assistant in.

”Go ahead and call them, ask them how the two companies are doing,” he said thoughtfully.

The assistant understood. ”They” referred to the spies they had planted in New Bori and Aida.

He called the spy in New Bori. The call was quickly answered and the spy said everything was normal there. Their production and marketing were both in order. They had just postponed the introduction of their new products into the market in order to stay away from the brunt of the Carcinogen Scandal.

Chen Zheng was satisfied. As the top company in the industry, New Bori had reacted well this time.

The assistant then made a call to the spy in Aida. The number was powered off. Chen Zheng looked serious and sat up straight.

After a while, the assistant made the call again only to get the same result.

The assistant hesitated. ”Is it out of battery? I'll have someone check.”

A sullen look on his face, Chen Zheng waved to let him out.

Leaning back in his executive chair for awhile, he took out his cell phone and searched out a number from his contact list.

Lin Qian.

In all 28 years of his life, Lin Qian was the first woman who had smashed flowers from him right in front of his face.

He had heard that she had transferred over to Aida and was promoted to the position of CEO assistant. If this were true, this woman genuinely didn't care about him, her former boss.

A grim smile on his face, Chen Zheng pressed the call button and held the cell phone to his ear.

Sorry, the number you are calling is currently not available.

Throwing the cell phone onto his desk, Chen Zheng called in the assistant again and ordered, ”It doesn't look right at Aida. They might have made some big moves these past few days. Who knows what this guy Gu Yanzhi is going to do while he's in power? You go and check it out at once.”

...

The night was dark and still. There were barely any stars in the sky, except a few scattered lights sparkling above the industrial park.

Lin Zhicheng walked ahead, followed by Lin Qian a few steps away. They walked towards the dorm building that was a few hundred feet away.

The concrete pavement, on which echoed Lin Qian's ankle boots, was flat and grey. She looked up at the straight and quiet figure in front of her. His hat blocked his eyes again.

”Don't know when it's going to snow this year,” Lin Qian said, speaking to herself.

Thinking he wouldn't give any response, Lin Qian unexpectedly heard his cool and deep voice. ”You want it to snow?”

Lin Qian looked up and saw him with his hands in his pants pockets, walking vigorously forward. Cold air came out of his mouth in a white vapor from him speaking.

”Yes,” Lin Qian answered with a smile. ”I think the snow is nice. I like it.”

”It's going to snow tomorrow.”

Pausing for a second, Lin Qian watched him reach the dorm gate, pull it open, and enter.

The weather forecast didn't say it was going to snow.

Is it just the intuitive wilderness survival skills that a military man has? He can just look at the sky and know when it's going to be windy or rainy?

It's undeniable that a military man, no matter the circumstances, is practical and useful.

They walked into the corridor.

The sensor light turned on immediately. With a big and tall guy by her side, Lin Qian felt that the corridor had become narrower. Her room was the first one on the left. She rubbed her cold hands against each other, took the key out and inserted it into the lock. For a moment, she paused.

Was she seeing things? Why did she think she caught a glimpse of someone, like a shadow, disappearing quickly around the corner of the hallway at the other end?

She turned around swiftly to look at Li Zhicheng, only to find him staring at the other end with a sullen look.

It wasn't her imagination. Someone had been there. It was so late at night—shouldn't everyone be catching up on lost sleep in their room after working endlessly for one whole day and night?

Lin Qian took a soft breath and lowered her voice. ”You go and keep guard at the gate. I'll go over and check. Don't act recklessly.”

She was about to creep forward stealthily until she felt two sharp eyes fixed on her.

Li Zhicheng was looking at her with his clear eyes.

She gave him a wink that said, What's the matter? Go!

She hadn't finished the wink when she felt a push on her waist.

”Shush. Get in.” It was a short and powerful order. His dark, clear eyes were very close to hers.

He ignored her own command; he gave her an order directly against it.

The door opened and, staggering forward a step, she was forced into the dark room. The door was closed behind her with a click.

Dumbfounded for a moment, Lin Qian quickly turned around and leaned against the door, looking outside through the peephole.

Really worthy of her nickname for him, ”Big Cat,” Li Zhicheng walked so quietly that she had no idea which direction he had snuck towards.

It was quiet in the hallway. Nothing was moving around.

Staying in this uncomfortable position, Lin Qian kept watching for quite some time. Finally, she grew tired and gave up.

She kicked off her boots, walked to her bed, and laid down.

A few minutes later, she heard a knock at the door.

The knocks were neither soft nor loud and were in a uniform rhythm.

Lin Qian got up feeling suspicious and looked outside through the peephole again. She saw a familiar hat and a black coat, and quickly opened the door.

Li Zhicheng stood under the light with a calm expression and steadily handed her a tube of ointment.

He looked at her as if nothing had happened.

Lin Qian was still worried. Glancing around and seeing nobody, she said in a hushed tone, ”Come in and tell me what happened.”

Li Zhicheng raised his eyebrows and walked in just two steps. Staring at her in silence, it seemed that he was waiting for something.

Lin Qian closed the door softly. ”How did it go? What happened? What did you see over there?”

Quiet for a moment, Li Zhicheng replied, ”There was nobody.”

Lin Qian didn't quite believe it. ”Are you sure?”

He looked at her and turned around to reach for the door.