The Expert
One week later
"Is there something wrong with our presentation?"
Rushi tried to keep still in her seat. She willed herself to relax as she kept eye contact with the man sitting across her.
"Quite the contrary, your team did good a while ago," Qingshan leaned in, offering a slight smile.
Rushi relaxed a little. She didn't want to admit it, but in actual fact she wants to hear the man's opinion. They spent a lot of time finalizing all the things they needed today and it showed in their actual presentation. Even though some of the executives from Jian Conglomerate looked unimpressed at first and asked many questions they were able to explained and answered everything exceptionally well. Rushi felt proud of her team, they worked hard for it. She focused on Qingshan, the man asked her to see him in his office when the meeting ended. She thought that there's something he didn't like about the plan but now she's confused. "Why did you ask me to meet you here?"
Qingshan stared at her intensely, his face unreadable. "Do you have something after this?"
Rushi tried not to look surprised, but the question made her caught off guard. "My team decided to have lunch together and I have to go back to the office at 3pm."
"Have lunch with me instead."
If Rushi managed to hide her shock earlier, now she felt her mouth gaping open for a second. She must be hearing things now. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."
Qingshan leaned in closer and deliberately spoke slowly. "I said I want to have lunch with you."
What the hell? Where did that come from? Rushi thought. "Why?"
"I told you last time, we're going to work together now. I want to know you better. Also, your father personally ask me to teach you the ropes of running a company."
Rushi didn't know how to react. Why did her father ask this man to guide her? Why is the CEO of Jian Conglomerate wants to be involve directly to this project? She had a lot of questions in her mind. She eyed Jian Qingshan for a moment. "I already have plans with my team."
"Tell them you're going with me."
"I don't thin-"
"-Or I can tell them myself." Ignoring her, Qingshan took his cellphone and tapped the screen.
Rushi clenched her teeth and her face growing hot with anger. She slammed the table with her hand. "Stop being unreasonable! You can have lunch by yourself!" She hissed and stepped out the room without looking back.
Once through the door she let out an angry sound. She can't believe that Jian Qingshan! If she's having second thought before, now she really want to strangle that man! The image of it somehow calm her nerves. Ugh. Now she's thinking like a psychopath because of that man! She shook her head to clear her mind and took a deep breath. She caught a movement on her side and noticed Secretary Han looking at her warily. She forced herself to smile and nodded her goodbye.
-At Qingshan's Office-
What just happened?
Qingshan grunted and stood up. What's wrong with Ms. Ying? He didn't understand. He just offered to take her to lunch and she got mad at him. He was about to call Secretary Han when the door burst open.
"What happened with Ms. Ying?"
"That's what I want to know."
Secretary Han eyed him suspiciously. "I saw her outside and she's fuming."
Qingshan took of his glasses and rubbed the area between his eyes. "I asked her to have lunch with me. She got mad and walked out."
"What exactly did you tell her?
"I told her to have lunch with me, she said she had plans with her team and I said I will tell them that she will go with me instead."
Secretary Han shook his head and sighed heavily. He can almost imagine what transpired between the two. His boss is used to have everything he wants, almost everyone wants to please him so he rarely needs to ask someone for something. He's capable at work but he's really clueless when it comes to human relations. "I'm sorry Sir but I understand why Ms. Ying got angry at you."
Qingshan dark brows drew together and tilted his head slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You didn't give her a choice. It's like you are ordering her to go out with you and you also disregard her plan with her team."
"I didn't mean to force her to eat with me. I just want us to have time together so that we can talk privately. After all, her father entrusted her to me. "
With a sigh of frustration, Secretary Han stepped closer to his friend. "Qing, you will never have a chance to get close with Ms. Ying outside of work, if you continue to approach her with that bossy attitude of yours."
"So what do you suggest Mr. Expert?" Qingshan crossed his arms in his chest and made no attempt to hide his sarcasm from his voice.
"I am no expert but with human relationships, I am much better than you. Just listen to me." Secretary Han fished his cellphone in his pocket and made a call.
-At a restaurant-
Waiting for their meals. Rushi looked around the place they had chosen. The restaurant is relatively new but already packed. It appeared small outside but spacious inside. The high beam ceilings gave the space a warm, cozy, inviting feel. The waitress came and brought all their orders. The aromatic smell wafted all over making her feel ravenous. She can feel the bad energy inside her evaporating after she tasted the food. She always believe that good food makes everything okay.
"So why are you so pissed a while ago?" Lijie asked her. He knew that this is the best time to pry.
"I just had a very ridiculous conversation with the CEO."
"What did Mr. Hottie told you?" The woman from her team chimed in.
Rushi cringed inwardly. Mr. Hottie? Really? First Huifang, now her teammate. What are they? High schoolers? "Nothing important. I can't understand you guys. What did you see in him?"
"I know right. I've been working with you guys for a looooong time but you didn't call me Mr. Hottie even once." Lijie put a hand over his heart, acting hurt.
The women in their group giggled. "You're not Mr. Hottie. You're the Prince Charming of Ying Financial." One of the women said.
"Now we're talking." Lijie flashed his charming smile and winked flirtatiously.
Rushi acted like she was throwing up and everyone burst out laughing. Rushi preferred this lively atmosphere. Good thing she didn't go with that wicked CEO. She continued eating and listened to her colleagues exchanged funny stories. One of the guy in their team suddenly stood up and waved his hand. "Mr. Jian! Nice to see you here."
Rushi who's in the middle of swallowing her food choked and clumsily grabbed her glass to drink. She wiped her lips and slowly turned to see if she heard her workmate clearly. She regretted her decision immediately because the man standing proudly behind her is none other than Jian Qingshan!
What the hell???