CH 5

Chapter 5: We Match

Concerned about the kid in the car, Qi Yan didn't get too close, and gave Lu Zhiqiao some face, and only blew lightly on her shoulder. The heat spread to the ears, and her legs suddenly became weak.

Without waiting for anyone to react and struggle, she voluntarily let go, turned around and got into the driver's seat.

Lu Zhiqiao froze, seeing the car window slowly coming down, the person inside poked her head out, "You are black, I am white, we match well."

"..." 

The window went up again, and after a while, the white car left first. Looking at the exit of the parking lot, there is only a wisp of car exhaust in sight.

It only take five minutes to drive from the community to the school, but because there are too many stop lights on the road, traffic was a bit congested, since it is Monday, you have to set aside at least ten minutes if you are tight on schedule.

Qi Yan encountered a red light at the first intersection when she came out.

In the rearview mirror, a black A8 slowly stopped behind. She pursed her lips and smiled lightly, then turned her head and glanced at the girl on the right, "Lu Wei." 

The little girl was sitting neatly, extremely nervous. Hearing the teacher call, she immediately turned her head and widened her eyes.

Her facial features are only slightly similar to her mother's eyes, but her bone structure are very good, her skin is very fair, and she is a beauty. Because there are too many students, Qi Yan usually doesn't pay much attention to her. She has a vague impression that this child is relatively reserved and quiet, that's all.

"Is it usually mom who takes you to school?"

"No, I take the subway by myself."

"Dad won't take you?"

With 20 seconds left at the red light, people's voices and car horns came and went, Qi Yan held the steering wheel tightly with one hand, And press the right side window to close with the other  to block out the noise. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the girl with her head lowered, and she didn't answer for a long time.

Last night, she didn't ask directly, and Lu Zhiqiao didn't answer directly. Some things involved principles, and she was still worried, and she had to figure it out before proceeding.

Today's children are smart, and if she ask too straightforwardly, they will inevitably be suspected of their intentions, she can only make a round about way after much deliberation. But judging by the child's reaction, she might be right.

At the last second, Lu Wei whispered, "Dad has passed away." 

The green light came on.

Qi Yan's palms were covered with sweat, and she slipped a bit, almost shifting to the wrong gear.

"Sorry."

She said, not apologetic in her heart, even a little excited, the corners of her mouth could not help but curl up.

At 8:50, Lu Zhiqiao stepped into the company building.

The entire building belongs to the Xinbei Group, and it is located in the CBD* of Jiangcheng, where every inch of land is expensive. It is mainly engaged in the research and development of smart hardware and electronic products. Lu Zhiqiao is a local. She has been working here since she just graduated from university. She has worked hard all the way, and now she has reached the top level for more than ten years.

*Central Business District

"Director Lu." 

"Hello, Director Lu."

"Morning Director Lu."

"..."

Up to the marketing department, there were staff all the way, Lu Zhiqiao nodded and smiled, and strode into the office.

The blinds were pulled up, and the outside sun shone in. It was very bright, meanwhile the brewed scented tea was still steaming on the table. Assistant Xiao Wan was making an internal call on the landline, saw her come in, said a few words hastily and hung up.

"Director, Mrs. Shu asked you to go up."

Lu Zhiqiao froze for a moment, nodded, and put the bag on the table, "Got it."

Marketing is a large department, which is subdivided into sales department, marketing department and public relations department. She manages the three departments by herself, and she is busy every day. The leader calls her mobile phone directly when there is something to do, so it is not so devious.

While weighing it in her heart, she took the elevator up to the twenty-ninth floor, knocked on the door of the general manager's office, and went in.

"Mrs. Shu."

A middle-aged woman was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window talking on the phone. Hearing the sound, she turned around and saw Lu Zhiqiao. She smiled and signaled her to sit down.

General Manager, Shu Minxi.*

**read as /shoe mean shee/

Lu Zhiqiao flashed a rare smile, sat on the chair opposite the desk, and waited patiently.

She spoke fluent Japanese in a business-like tone. Although she couldn't understand it, she could guess that it was a work call.

After a while, Shu Minxi hung up the phone, sat down around the desk, and said straight to the point: "The delegation from Japan's Teisei Co., Ltd. will come next Thursday, and I need to personally meet them but it is in conflict with the time of the exhibition, so I have to trouble you to go to the exhibition for me."

Every year, in early November, there is a large-scale international trade exhibition in City G. Exhibitors will communicate face-to-face with customers from all over the world. The company has always attached great importance to this, and the Vice President used to be the one leading a team to participate in the exhibition, but the vice president left in the first half of the year, and the board of directors has never appointed a new candidate. This matter naturally fell on Shu Minxi.

But she has a lot of affairs in her day and is very busy. Most of the things must be handed over to her trustworthy subordinates.

The exhibition is a hot spot, and the company's top executives are staring at it red-eyed. Whoever can take over can almost be said to have half of his ass sitting on the position of vice president.

Lu Zhiqiao was very aware of the twists and turns, but she didn't expect Shu Minxi to hand over the task to her so simply, and felt that it was not that simple for a while.

"Why, can't your schedule be arranged?" Seeing that she didn't respond, Shu Minxi frowned slightly.

Indeed, it happened suddenly and hastily.

"If you can't spare the time, you can only choose someone else." These words have a hint of regret.

Lu Zhiqiao hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm free."

Originally, she promised her daughter that they would go to a wild barbecue next weekend, but now it seems that it has been messed up. The exhibition will last for two or three days, and it will be a new week of work when she comes back. There was no time for even a break let alone going out to play.

But she has no reason not to reject the great potential promotion opportunity. As for why a sweet pastry* was given to her, she can vaguely guess.

*golden opportunity

Shu Minxi heaved a sigh of relief, crossed her fingers, and said with a smile, "I'll send the exhibition information and exhibitor plan to your mailbox in a while. You have followed me before, so you can watch and adjust yourself."

"Yes."

"Okay, go get busy."

Lu Zhiqiao got up, walked to the door and stopped.

"Mrs. Shu."

"Huh?"

She turned her head and asked, "Is Chairman Aoki's daughter also in the delegation?"

Shu Minxi was startled, her eyes dimmed quickly, she turned her face to the side, and did not answer.

Lu Zhiqiao didn't ask any more questions, opened the door and left.

After accepting the task of the exhibition, time was tight, and overtime was inevitable. Lu Zhiqiao called her daughter in advance and asked her to have dinner by herself, then she got busy until after eight o'clock before leaving the office building.

The evening rush hour has passed and the traffic isn't congested. Fifteen minutes later, the car drove into the underground garage of the complex.

Lu Zhiqiao parked the car, and just opened the door, when a white car drove up, the headlights flickered twice, she looked up, and saw that the car slowed down, reversed parked in one go, and stopped firmly beside her.

She had to look up and down.

"Getting off work so late?" With the car window open, Qi Yan poked her  head out and smiled at her.

Lu Zhiqiao closed the door and locked it, and took a few steps forward, "You too."

Lu Zhiqiao had thought that Junior High teachers work a regular eight to five as long as they weren't handling a graduating class. So why was she only coming back now? She couldn't think of what to say, so she copied the answer and didn't want to say more and responded with one sentence.

"I accompanied our Deputy Secretary to dinner until now." Qi Yan said helplessly, got out of the car with the window closed, and locked the door, "Let's go up together."

Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly, without saying a word, the two walked side by side to in the elevator.

The deputy secretary sounds like a greasy middle-aged man in his forties or fifties with a pot belly. She doesn't know how the caste system works at school, so she felt uncomfortable for no reason.

The elevator door opened, and she stepped in first.

Qi Yan went in later, pressed the ninth floor, and suddenly said: "She's female."

Lu Zhiqiao froze but did not speak.

The elevator ascended slowly, and there was silence in the small space. The distance between the two of them was half a body, neither far nor close, and the air suddenly felt hot and stuffy.

A familiar scent lingers through her nose, which is still smelled at the bar that night, like cold citrus, and like heavy sandalwood, full of coldness. Qi Yan doesn't wear perfume very often, but she knows a thing or two. She has a very picky nose. Women who wear street fragrances are all vulgar, but not this woman.

"What kind of perfume do you use?"

Lu Zhiqiao glanced at her and said suddenly, "Artemis."

"The Moon Goddess?"

"Also the goddess of the hunt."

After speaking, the elevator stopped on the ninth floor, and the door slowly opened.

Lu Zhiqiao went out first, and Qi Yan followed behind, staring at her shoulders with scorching eyes, "Wait a minute."

The woman stopped and turned half her body.

"You left something with me last time." Qi Yan lowered her head and flipped through her bag, took out a small earring, put it in her palm, and spread it out towards her.

The luster of the broken diamonds shone under the shadow of the lamp, bright and dazzling, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly remembered that night, her cheeks burned suddenly, and her temples throbbed.

The smile in Qi Yan's eyes grew stronger, and she stepped forward to grab her hand, combed her fingers through Zhiqiao's hair, put the earrings on, and then slowly covered them, leaning close to her ear and whispering: "It fell on the bed when we slept.”