C16 Change

Despite not getting a wink of sleep the previous night, Qu Ningyuan still had to drag himself to work the next day. Life goes on, after all, and no matter how much he had wept the night before, the world remained indifferent upon waking.

Upon arriving at the company, Qu Ningyuan ran into Zhang Zhiwen right at the entrance—an encounter he could have done without so early in the morning.

"Hey, Xiao Qu, good morning! Wow, you look terrible. Rough night, huh? Couldn't sleep? Are you stressing over the Hainan project? Don't sweat it. Just leave it all to me; I'll handle it better," Zhang Zhiwen said with a smirk.

"The outcome is still undecided, Zhang Zhiwen. It's premature to be making such claims. How far do you think you can get with your scheming? How long do you think you can hold on to your position?" Qu Ningyuan retorted.

Seeing Zhang Zhiwen first thing in the morning was the last thing Qu Ningyuan wanted. Just one more glance at the man was enough to sour his mood. It was nauseating to have him come over and spout such nonsense, spoiling Qu Ningyuan's day even further.

Once at the office, the manager summoned both Zhang Zhiwen and Qu Ningyuan.

"Xiao Zhang, Xiao Qu, you both need to put in more effort on the Hainan project. CEO Yang wants you to bring the proposal today to discuss the details. Be proactive and diligent; we can definitely secure this project. Keep your eyes on the prize," the manager encouraged.

"Of course, we'll get the job done. You just wait for our success," Zhang Zhiwen confidently assured, thumping his chest.

"But don't let your guard down. This opportunity is coveted by many, not just within our company but by competitors as well. Don't assume success just because they've glanced at your proposal. Until the contract is signed, the project isn't ours. The business world is unpredictable, so we must be exceedingly cautious," the manager warned.

Zhang Zhiwen felt a twinge of impatience. To him, the manager was overly cautious and long-winded. Wasn't it obvious that he, a seasoned professional, understood these basic principles? He wasn't new to the game. He had made it this far and was anything but naive. He was convinced that it was only a matter of time before he would be sitting in the manager's chair.

Zhang Zhiwen was feeling quite pleased with himself, almost as if he was about to secure the coveted position. Qu Ningyuan, on the other hand, wasn't too concerned. With his "Heaven's Eye," he had a clear understanding of every company's situation. As long as Zhang Zhiwen didn't interfere with his plans, there wouldn't be any significant issues. Moreover, he had Yang Xue on his side—who else would Yang Liguo entrust the project to?

Later, when he visited Yang Xue's company, Qu Ningyuan planned to invite her out for a meal. It would be a good opportunity to strengthen their rapport.

After receiving instructions from their manager, Qu Ningyuan and Zhang Zhiwen departed for Yunshang Business Group. Throughout the journey, Qu Ningyuan remained silent. He had slept poorly the night before and was feeling particularly exhausted. With no energy to engage with Zhang Zhiwen, he quickly dozed off in the car.

Zhang Zhiwen kept to himself, harboring a dislike for Qu Ningyuan who always seemed to be at odds with him. Now, Qu Ningyuan was even trying to compete for the Hainan project—Zhang Zhiwen thought it was a pipe dream. With him in the picture, Qu Ningyuan shouldn't expect to monopolize the benefits. Luckily, Zhang Zhiwen had Qingqing as an informant, keeping him in the loop. However, with Yang Xue's support for Qu Ningyuan, it was turning into a real headache. Without removing Qu Ningyuan from the equation, he had inadvertently invited a significant challenge.

Zhang Zhiwen had Hee Qingqing by his side, and if it weren't for her, he would have already pursued Yang Xue. But he didn't dare act on it—Hee Qingqing had sacrificed so much for him, and if she ever found out, she would surely not let it slide without consequences.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at their destination. Qu Ningyuan and Zhang Zhiwen exited the car and made their way into the company. The building was impressive, dwarfing their own office in size and boasting a far superior environment. The receptionist was exceptionally warm and attractive, her sweet voice explaining their purpose before leading them to the office.

The project had a dedicated manager who was quite young. The youthfulness of the group made for brisk and engaging discussions. They quickly wrapped up the meeting, but the process was far from over. After hosting them, other companies were also in line. They had merely made it through the preliminary selection; the path to success was still long ahead.

Yang Xue was aware that Qu Ningyuan was coming over to discuss business, so she hurried over to find him just as he was stepping out.

"Ningyuan."

"Xue."

"Why didn't you look me up when you came to our company for business?"

"I didn't want to interrupt your work. Are you free for lunch? Let's eat together."

"Sure, where shall we go?"

Suddenly, the sound of documents hitting the floor caught their attention. It was Chen Huan, surprisingly present and in uniform. Could Chen Huan be working here? It seemed like a small world, with so many companies around, yet she chose this one. Future encounters were bound to be awkward.

Chen Huan stood frozen, staring at Qu Ningyuan. She realized that Yang Xue was the girlfriend he had mentioned. How ironic, considering he had once said he couldn't make her happy. Yet, it seemed he could offer happiness to Yang Xue. With a sigh, Chen Huan bent down to gather her papers.

"Do you two know each other?" Yang Xue inquired, puzzled.

"No, I don't know her," Qu Ningyuan replied.

Seeing that Chen Huan avoided any interaction and focused on retrieving her documents, Qu Ningyuan understood she wanted no association with him. Claiming ignorance was for the best to avoid any misunderstanding with Yang Xue, which could be difficult to clear up later.

Zhang Zhiwen, observing from the side, sensed the tension between them. As someone experienced in romantic matters, he knew there was more to the story. The timing was impeccable; the look of resentment in Chen Huan's eyes as she watched Qu Ningyuan suggested a complex past. Perhaps she could be an ally in his own plans. Her arrival was like a stroke of luck.

"Find us a good spot at the restaurant and wait for me. I'll be off in half an hour," Qu Ningyuan said, taking his leave.

"Alright, let's head out," Yang Xue agreed.

After Chen Huan finished picking up her documents, she cast a final glance back at Qu Ningyuan, a look tinged with jealousy. Clearly, there was more to her relationship with Qu Ningyuan than met the eye. It was something that definitely warranted further investigation.

Qu Ningyuan felt a twinge of fear. His ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend had collided in the same company, which was truly a nightmare scenario. He dreaded the day Yang Xue would find out and fly off the handle. To make matters worse, they both worked at the same company, and due to the Hainan project, he might have to visit often. It was an absolute headache. What was he to do?