Chapter Eight: Is This How You Treat the Client?
This place was truly remote. Wen Ganan stepped out of the parking lot, but no ridesharing orders were being accepted. After waiting a few more minutes, a black business van slowly pulled out of the lot and stopped in front of her.
The driver rolled down the window. "Miss Wen, get in. This place is out of the way; it’ll be even harder to find a ride later. It’s not safe for you to be alone."
Wen Ganan hesitated for a few seconds, then the rear window rolled down as well. She caught sight of Liang Yuxiu’s slightly flushed face and met his blurry gaze.
“Get in. You came all this way for me so late. I’m responsible for seeing you home.”
She knew he couldn’t hold his liquor well, which was why he hurried over, but only out of humanitarian concern and to earn some goodwill, without mixing in the past emotions.
She believed Liang Yuxiu felt the same.
So Wen Ganan didn’t put on airs and got into the front passenger seat.
In the rearview mirror, Liang Yuxiu’s eyes deepened; he ultimately said nothing and looked out the window.
The car began to move slowly.
Suddenly, the driver spoke up, “By the way, Mr. Liang, the yogurt you asked me to buy is still here. Miss Wen, could you please hand it over?”
Without much thought, Wen Ganan took it, inserted the straw, and was about to pass it back.
When she turned, she met Liang Yuxiu’s eyes and outstretched hand. Both of them froze.
The scene felt too familiar—back when they were married, Wen Ganan often did this.
She pursued him even more persistently then.
When she discovered he had a terrible sense of direction, Liang Yuxiu was quite upset, feeling his privacy had been invaded—a blow to his pride as a sacred, untouchable figure.
Wen Ganan patiently comforted him, “It’s okay, I know the way. If you bring me along, you won’t get lost anymore.”
“You mean like a guide dog,” Liang Yuxiu replied, to which she smiled brightly. Looking back, it was quite a fall from grace.
Wen Ganan expressionlessly shoved the yogurt into his hand and turned to sit properly.
Seeing this, Liang Yuxiu chuckled, “Is this how you treat your client?”
Wen Ganan glanced at him sharply, unapologetic, “Nothing’s decided yet. Don’t think you can use your client status to pressure me. When Mr. Liang truly becomes my client, then maybe I’ll indulge you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Wen Ganan snorted. She certainly wasn’t naive enough to believe Liang Yuxiu would hand over the project just so she could pamper him.
She was just hoping he wouldn’t hold a grudge over the past.
The car entered the city. Liang Yuxiu’s hotel was downtown, in the same direction as Wen Ganan’s home, but still some distance apart.
He wanted to see her off at her building’s entrance, but she refused.
At the intersection, Wen Ganan asked to get out.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Liang, the security here is good. Nothing will happen to me, and if it does, I won’t blame you.”
Her words carried a double meaning. Liang Yuxiu frowned but didn’t insist.
After over an hour’s delay, Wen Ganan returned home to a barrage of scolding from Wen Shaoru and Tan Fang.
She excused herself, saying a client had an emergency, only to be reprimanded again by Tan Fang.
“I don’t know what’s so good about this job. Those things, I can’t even understand them. You never know when you might lose it—no security.”
Wen Ganan had heard this so many times she was skilled at letting it slide in one ear and out the other. “Yes, yes, you’re right. That’s why I have to work harder, make a name for myself, and earn more money.”
Tan Fang rolled her eyes.
“Bank jobs are more stable. I heard the Cheng family has relatives working at the People’s Bank headquarters. If you and Xiao Cheng get serious and move to Yancheng, they’ll help arrange a job for you there.”
Wen Ganan almost choked on her water. She hadn’t expected their families to have thought this far ahead, though in truth, she and Cheng He had barely interacted in recent days.
She quickly ate her late-night snack and went to her room. After some thought, she decided to call Cheng He tomorrow.
She slept well that night. After several busy days, her body and mind had finally recovered.
When she opened her eyes, it was nearly ten o’clock. Just as she was about to get up, Liang Yuxiu’s call came through. He said her earring had fallen in his car last night.
Wen Ganan was stunned. She glanced at the single earring left on her dresser. She had noticed one missing when she came back last night and assumed she’d dropped it at work. She had planned to look for it when she went to the office to work overtime today, but it turned out to be with him.
If it were any other item, it might not matter, but this pair of earrings was a coming-of-age gift from her grandfather on her eighteenth birthday.
Wen Ganan rubbed her hair. “I’ll send a courier to pick it up.”
“These earrings look expensive. It’s best if you come get them yourself, to avoid any mix-ups. I wouldn’t be able to explain otherwise,” Liang Yuxiu said solemnly.
He was always like this—insisting on being serious when it was least appropriate.
Wen Ganan had suffered from this in earlier years.
Not knowing how to respond, Tan Fang knocked on the door. Flustered, Wen Ganan hurriedly ended the call, only to see Tan Fang enter with a bright smile.
“Mom, what are you doing?”
Tan Fang lowered her voice, chiding gently, “You’re still sleeping? Hurry up and get ready. Xiao Cheng’s here. Get yourself together and go meet him.”
“Ah?”
Just as she opened her eyes, one thing after another piled up, and Wen Ganan’s mind went blank.
After a flurry of activity, she opened WeChat and first messaged Liang Yuxiu, saying she’d find time later to pick up the earring, then quickly got ready and went out.
Cheng He had been sitting in the living room for a while already, accompanied by Wen Shaoru.
When he saw Wen Ganan, he wore that same quiet, smiling expression.
Wen Ganan awkwardly greeted him, then hurried to the bathroom to freshen up.
When she returned, Tan Fang was already sitting next to Cheng He, inquiring about his family background, work preferences, and so on.
Worried the situation might get out of control, Wen Ganan quickly interrupted and asked Cheng He, “Have you eaten breakfast?”
Cheng He wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded knowingly, “Not yet.”
“Then let me take you out for some authentic local breakfast.”
“Sounds good!”
They quickly said goodbye to Wen Shaoru and Tan Fang.
It had rained continuously for days, but today was a rare clear day with sunshine and a gentle breeze.
Wen Ganan and Cheng He sighed in unison as they stepped out of the complex, then looked at each other and smiled wryly.
“How did you suddenly end up in Miancheng?” Wen Ganan asked.
Cheng He chuckled, “My parents and aunt insisted I come. They said it was to pay a visit. I messaged you as soon as I landed last night. I wanted to give you a heads-up, but you didn’t reply.”
Only then did Wen Ganan thoroughly check WeChat and find his message around midnight.
She slapped her forehead in frustration. “Sorry, I went to bed early last night and didn’t see it.”
Cheng He shrugged.
Wen Ganan smiled brightly. “You really haven’t eaten breakfast?”
“I don’t have the habit,” Cheng He answered honestly.
“That won’t do. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you skip it long-term, your health will suffer. As a busy director, you should take better care of yourself. Otherwise, how will you have the energy to work?”
Her tone was gentle, almost like talking to a child, without sounding preachy or unpleasant.
She had long noticed Cheng He was a workaholic like herself.
Strictly speaking, they weren’t compatible.
Cheng He pretended not to understand and deliberately asked, “So you’re taking me to eat today?”
Wen Ganan nodded without hesitation. “No problem. Follow me.”
Today she wore a light purple tracksuit, her chestnut hair tied in a ponytail. Her smile was youthful and bright, yet gentle and warm—a stark contrast to her work persona.
Cheng He watched her retreating figure, a trace of absentmindedness crossing his handsome face.
It seemed... being with someone like this wouldn’t be so bad after all.