Beloved Enemy Chapter 81

After three days, WangJin also returned. But instead of going home after leaving the airport, he arranged to meet with GuQingPei regarding the contract.

GuQingPei proactively lowered some of the favorable terms promised by WangJin in the contract. The purpose was to gain greater independence but at the same time made the clauses even more thorough.

He has his own considerations. As a large real estate developer, WangJin has cooperated with YuanLiJiang on many projects, but have also competed with him on others. Although he had left YuanLiJiang’s company for a while, he still kept himself up-to-date of the important information with regards to the real estate industry. Before deciding to enter WangJin’s company, he did a lot of research. He found that recently there was a land-bid project that several large-scale real estate companies had their eyes on. WangJin and YuanLiJiang are the two most competitive players for this project.

WangJin recruiting him at this time, whether it was purely coincidental or intentional, it is impossible to ignore the fact that WangJin wanted to use GuQingPei’s experience as YuanLiJiang’s subordinate to compete against him.

Business people are exactly like this; regardless of it being toward the person or the matter, it is to make the best use of everything. GuQingPei did not feel that anything is wrong with it. He and WangJin are not personally involved at the moment, and it’s not like he is working without pay. The only thing that is clear is their relationship of boss and employee. There is no existence of being used or not being used. But, he absolutely will not follow WangJin in competing against YuanLiJiang. However he is going to distant himself from this while working in WangJin’s company will depend solely on his own abilities.

There are indeed many things in his hand that can be used against YuanLiJiang. Which listed companies don’t have any problems with their books accounts? This knowledge in his hands is essentially useless because on his own abilities, he won’t even be able to lift a big ship like YuanLiJiang. But if it is used by WangJin, it will be very different story. Although these things will not have a huge impact on YuanLiJiang, nor does WangJin want to force YuanLiJiang too much, it would just create some minor ripple in public opinion that would cause YuanLiJiang to face a credit crisis in the bid. This in itself will give WangJin a huge advantage.

GuQingPei’s cleverness naturally will not allow WangJin to use him as a gun, so he has drafted his own labor contract. It took him two days to change the contract.

Although these are only his assumptions at the moment, he instinctively has to give himself another way out. Even if he has the evidence that YuanLiJiang bribed someone for murder, he won’t over-confidently deal with him. It’s not that he didn’t bear any grudges against him, but just that he can’t afford to do so. Moreover, YuanLiJiang is YuanYang’s father after all. His employment with WangJin is just a job. He’s not that stupid to involve himself in the competition between these two people. That is a bottomless vortex.

WangJin did not have much objection to the terms of the modified contract. His mouth continued to raise in a smile. After the two men signed the contract, WangJin gifted GuQingPei with a thoughtfully selected present to congratulate him on joining his company, hoping that he could start as soon as possible to engage in the company’s project efforts.

Considering that WangJin’s company is far from the place where he currently lives, GuQingPei plans to move near the company. It just so happen that a few years ago when he was working in the state-owned enterprise, the company gave him a house that is not far from WangJin’s company. After he finished renovating it, it had been left vacant. He really should change his environment.

Every time he returned this house (house that he lived with YuanYang), he felt an uncomfortable suffocating feeling because every corners of the house had the essence of another person.

He had an agreement with WangJin to start work next Monday. Take advantage of the remaining days, he went and ordered some furniture and household items. Then he packed up some of his most commonly used items and moved it to the house.

Getting away from the environment that is filled with too many memories, he felt a bit more relaxed.

In the evening, he called a friend who had inquired about his future prospects. They decided to meet up for dinner and also called several other people. His so-called friends are nothing more than people whom he has had business dealings with or friends that could be of use to him some time in the future. From the time of his mishap, they had wanted to get the gossip. Right now is the time to give these people that satisfaction, just to take advantage of the use of their mouths for publicity and to make those people who have been waiting to see him as a fool, become speechless.

The weather is getting warmer. He wore a light-colored casual suit with a beige cashmere sweater for the evening banquet; his entire person appeared to be immensely  proud, competent, and naturally unrestrained, looking full of the maturity and charisma of a charming man.

As he walked through the hall and into the reserved room, he looked so proud and triumphant, his face looking glorious with no trace of worry or exhaustion. Where is that depressive mourning lost look?

The people who attended were astounded. Seeing that there was no excitement, they were naturally disappointed.

GuQingPei smiled from the beginning to end as he skillfully and easily mingled in the midst of these people’s doubts and mockery. In a short period of time, he squashed all their sarcastic questions. Furthermore, he revealed the news of him working for WangJin’s company.

His purpose had indeed been achieved.

If it wasn’t for WangJin’s prestige, he would definitely be thoroughly disgraced today, because even he himself is lacking confidence. But right now, he didn’t suffer much negative effect. Instead, his status is expected to rise. The few exposed pictures he had so feared before, as long as he can remain calm, others will not be able to hurt him a bit.

Leaving the banquet to return home, GuQingPei could no longer keep up the pretentious smile. He just felt endless exhaustion. Even if he was to regain fame and fortune, when he returns home, there is no caring person who will make a hot steaming meal with him.

In a short period of one year, he had lost so much …. so much that when he had to endure it, the pain was unending.

When he came to work on Monday, WangJin introduced him to the staff at their regular meeting. The vast majority of employees in this company did not know him at all. They also did not know of the rumors surrounding his “sex photos.” But GuQingPei knows. Gossip is a kind of thing that grows and spread without end. Soon everyone in the company would know. He needs to stifle it before this happens so that they can look at him with respect and reverence. Only then, can he sit firmly in his position.

GuQingPei made a very inspiring inaugural speech. With his excellent eloquence, adding on to his extremely charming outward appearance, his presence in QingDa Real Estate caused a lot of commotions.

After the company’s regular meeting, WangJin convened a meeting with the key personnel of the asset disposal department to formally introduce their new boss to them. GuQingPei spoke frankly with assurance in the meeting. He had once held a position for more than a decade in a state-owned enterprise that is ranked 50 in the world’s top 500. This is where he absorbed the knowledge and applied the most advanced international management concepts. Wherever he took this knowledge, it is enough to make him shine in front of others.

After getting a general understanding of the people under his command, WangJin empowered him to initiate his working duties as soon as possible and then left.

WangJin’s image is one that is full of seriousness and imposing prestige in the company. GuQingPei could see that the company’s employees are all a bit afraid of him. It’s best this way. At least in the company, WangJin will not be too brazen. Furthermore, WangJin is also a very busy person. He may not be able to see him more than a few times a week, which inevitably makes him feel relieved.

WangJin assigned him a full-time secretary that is a few years older than him. It seems that WangJin is really “attentive” toward him. The secretary puts the information of some urgent projects on his desk. GuQingPei sipped his tea while skimming through the information. Unsurprisingly, he discovered the land bidding project of which QingDa was in contention with YuanLiJiang.

GuQingPei faintly smiled, then picked up the documents to study it carefully.

Without having to use any shady methods, just by his own ability and the strength of QingDa, he has great confidence in winning the bid.

After reading the project information, he also asked his subordinates to prepare information on the detailed circumstances of opening bids for the national industry and gather all the information including all the related production and business activities in recent years, the more the better. Additionally, he also did an analysis on QingDa’s project investment capacity.

He spent two days getting familiar with this project. Very soon he and his team started to work overtime.

With only two weeks away from the opening bid, he reviewed the two bid suggestions from before and was not satisfied. Although he had only worked for YuanLiJiang for a year, he knew YuanLiJiang’s operating style very well. The result of their willingness to decrease profits will eventually lead directly to a decline in quality. This bidding document will certainly be attacked by YuanLiJiang for being worthless.

GuQingPei lead a bunch of young and full of vitality employees to gather the quoted costs for construction, materials selection and progress dates, picking and carving out every little details, striving to be profitable while being the most competitive.

He did not know the investment strategy of the other two competing companies; but toward YuanLiJiang, at least he understood this opponent.

A weeks’ time past by quickly, GuQingPei used his own ability to win over his subordinates and gradually gained a place in the company.

YuanYang did not contact him again after that time. From the time he met YuanYang till now, this is the only time in which they had not contacted or seen each other for more than ten days.

GuQingPei rarely had free time. He would rather be busy 24 hours a day so he would not have time to think about YuanYang. But when he sat down for a rest, he would eventually think of YuanYang, still feeling unstoppable pain and loneliness.

There was a dinner in the evening that WangJin needed him to attend. GuQingPei took a shower after work and napped in the office for half an hour. His secretary awakened him and informed him that the driver is waiting for him downstairs.

When GuQingPei got to the restaurant, WangJin had already arrived. When WangJin saw him, he pulled him over to introduce him to the general manager. GuQingPei always felt that some people looked at him weirdly, however, he has always remained calm and unyielding. His performance is flawless.

Just when this table full of people was sitting around eating, laughing and chatting away, a director from the XX Bureau came back from the restroom.

Drinking some wine, telling them, “Hey, such a coincidence, Yuan Ge is next door, Old Liu, Chairman Wang, go with me to give him a toast.”

GuQingPei’s expression slightly changed. For this director to call someone “brother,” and also having the surname Yuan, he guessed there is only a few in Beijing.

Those people on the table who knew that WangJin and YuanLiJiang were recently in contention did not move. One by one, they looked at WangJin. WangJin’s expression did not change as he smiled, “Ahh really a coincidence. Let’s go. How can we not give him a toast, QingPei, I’m not trying to hide from drinking, but can you drink for me? WangJin laughed as he patted GuQingPei’s shoulder, a motion indicating that he must go.

WangJin is naturally thinking for him, so how can he not go?

Most of the people sitting on the table were from Beijing, so most of them knew that he had once worked for YuanLiJiang. With his former boss just next door, if he was to just to sit here and not move, would it confirm that he was he was kicked out the door by YuanLiJiang and too shameful to meet him?

Regardless of what, he can’t just hide and not see him. In a way, he needed to generously pay respect to YuanLiJiang and give him a toast!

Before he moved, he was pulled by an official from another province that was sitting beside him, “Director Gu, I also want to go see, Brother Liu, help introduce us to Chairman Yuan.”

This Director Liu had drank too much, blabbing out, “Ha, why ask me to introduce you guys? Director Gu use to work under Chairman Yuan, you should ask him.”

WangJin’s expression is slightly gloomy, not looking very happy.

The director quickly criticized Director Liu. Director Liu also came to the realization. The atmosphere was awkward.

GuQingPei smiled, “I’m somewhat embarrassed to say, Chairman Yuan had always been reluctant in letting me leave. Recently, he’s called to ask me to go back. But, I’m indebted to Chairman Wang and more than grateful to him for his encouragement and appreciation of my abilities. I’m not able to return the favor other than willing to be his right arm. You see, one is my former boss who has guided and promoted me; the other my current boss who I am gratefully indebted to. I am most embarrassed. Such is life, living is a struggle.” After he said that, he laughed at himself.

The people who knew the inside story must have lamented in their heart that this person is really thick skinned, but on the surface they strive try to say some flattering remarks.

In the end, GuQingPei still went with WangJin. When the door opened, his eyes and YuanLiJiang’s eyes connected.

YuanLiJiang drank a little wine so his face was a little flushed, the smile on the face has not yet faded, but in the moment he saw GuQingPei, he froze.

However, YuanLiJiang is a person with prominence. He immediately smiled, “Hey, Brother Wang, Bureau Chief Zhao, Director Liu, what day is it today? Such a coincidence, isn’t it? Isn’t this Director Gu? I thought you returned to your family home?”

With more than a dozen people crowded in the reserved room, it will inevitably appear to be a bit crowded. The people who know the inside story looked with probing eyes between YuanLiJiang and GuQingPei, anxious to watch the excitement.

GuQingPei laughed, “Yes, I went back a few days ago to spent some time with my parents. That I must do since I didn’t even have time to be back during New Years. Now, I’ve had some time to fulfill my filial piety. It’s such a pity because I didn’t get to stay too long before Chairman Wang called me back. Early planning is the key to success. Many projects are waiting to bloom and bear fruits^(t/n), it’s really a good time.”

T/N: 開花結果, idiom – yield positive results.

The last sentence from GuQingPei was full of provocation. YuanLiJiang narrowed his eyes slightly.

WangJin smiled, “Chairman Yuan, come, I brought our Director Gu here to give you a toast.” In particular, he emphasized the three words, “our Director Gu.” YuanLiJiang’s expression became agitated.

The two people very modestly toasted YuanLiJiang. Before YuanLiJiang can get a few glances of GuQingPei, he was pulled by other people, one after another taking turns in toasting him.

WangJin and GuQingPei also took a glass of wine to toast the people around the table regardless of whether they knew them or not.

In this exclusive social gathering, there is no time in between for YuanLiJiang and GuQingPei to confront each other. However for GuQingPei, his purpose of appearing to be victorious with his return has been achieved.

YuanLiJiang glanced at GuQingPei in the midst of talking; GuQingPei also looked at him,

The two people’s gaze converged in the air, full gunpowder smell.

End of the Chapter