Shen Ruozhen read the plan carefully last night and came to the company today, ready to look up some information and make a preliminary design for the assessment mechanism of the new team.
He did not go up to the twelfth floor, but stayed in the president's office to work overtime with Xiang Mingzhang. They were separated by a large desk and neither of them looked up. Once they were busy, they were both focused.
The documents they were using were spread across the center of the desk, forming a dividing line. They happened to reach out their hands at the same time, and their fingertips accidentally touched. Then they looked up and met each other's eyes.
Their eyes met for a moment, and then he lowered his head for another moment.
Shen Ruozhen will get it done first. Establishing the mechanism requires reference to aspects such as the number of people, qualifications and business volume. At this stage, it is just a framework, which is not complicated.
Shen Ruozhen quietly moved the chair away and took the empty mug from the table. He filled it with water and came back, walked around the table and put it down, and then arranged the documents that Xiang Mingzhang had finished processing.
With both hands rapidly tapping the keyboard, Xiang Mingzhang was able to distract himself: "Is it still raining?"
Shen Ruozhen turned around and walked to the window, saying, "Stop."
After typing the last word, Xiang Mingzhang stretched his neck. He carried the cup of water to Shen Ruozhen's side, and leaned against the windowsill with his arm around her to get some fresh air.
From this office one can see the building of the R&D center. Shen Ruozhen will never forget the time when Xiang Mingzhang took him to the data center. The hundreds of servers flashing green fluorescence gave him an indescribable shock.
Xiang Mingzhang took a sip of water and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Shen Ruozhen recalled a small incident that he had never told anyone before, and said, "When I first joined Xiang Yue, I almost made a fool of myself once."
Xiang Mingzhang asked curiously, "How could you, Director Shen, be so calm in the face of adversity?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "At that time, I was only familiar with Ling Qi, and I asked him all the computer questions. One time when we were talking about saving data, I asked him where the files were saved if they were not printed out."
Ling Qi said that it was saved in the company's "cloud". Shen Ruozhen was puzzled and asked whether the "cloud" was in the park.
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Do you think the cloud is an office building?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "I thought it was Xiang Yue's safe deposit box, just like our Fuhua Bank."
Xiang Mingzhang couldn't help laughing, but he felt more regretful. If he had known this would happen, he should have let Shen Ruozhen be his secretary from the beginning. He should have asked him about everything he didn't understand or was curious about. There would be no one else to ask.
Shen Ruozhen also smiled. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was noon. He asked, "Do you have any plans for the afternoon?"
Xiang Mingzhang had nothing to do and was planning to go to the club to exercise, but he didn't expect Shen Ruozhen to come today.
The Chu family agreed to accept the shares, which was smoother than expected. So Xiang Mingzhang said, "Let's make an appointment with a lawyer in the afternoon to discuss the details."
After packing up and leaving the office, Shen Ruozhen glanced towards the secretary's office. The gladiolus he had given to Feng Han was doing well.
Taking the elevator to the first floor, Shen Ruozhen went out first. He called Lawyer Lei, who happened to be working in the law firm and could receive them.
The Rolls-Royce drove out of the underground garage and stopped in front of the office building. Shen Ruozhen got in the car and sent the location of the law firm to Xiang Mingzhang.
The road surface became slippery due to the rain. Xiang Mingzhang drove slowly. After turning onto the street, Shen Ruozhen looked at the outer wall of the park, passing by the visitor center, office building, library...
He suddenly thought of something: "Should I move out after Yisi?"
Xiang Mingzhang paused at the steering wheel. He had planned everything but ignored this. He said, "Maybe not."
Shen Ruozhen said: "When Yisi and Xiang Yue have nothing to do with each other, there is no reason to stay in the park."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "You forgot that there are also support and cooperation plans. The two teams will inevitably meet, and it will be much more convenient to be together."
Everything has its principles. Shen Ruozhen said: "Support and cooperation are already extra favors. It is not appropriate to take up other people's space after all."
Xiang Mingzhang stepped on the accelerator, splashing water around the car, and said, "You haven't met the lawyer yet, and the agreement hasn't been signed yet, and you're thinking about leaving now?"
Shen Ruozhen sensed some displeasure in his voice. As the car sped past the end of the park, he withdrew his gaze and sat up straight.
After two minutes of silence, Xiang Mingzhang asked, "Why aren't you talking?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "I can't help but go up to the ninth floor with you, which means I also like to be closer to you."
Now it was Xiang Mingzhang's turn to remain silent. He held several positions including legal representative, president and director. He knew better than anyone that an independent company could not "live under someone else's roof".
It was all because of Shen Ruozhen. As his secretary, I was just one step away from him every day. We were together almost every day, whether on business trips or at social events.
For Xiang Mingzhang, Shen Ruozhen's move from the ninth floor to the twelfth floor was considered far. If Yi Si moved out of the park completely, he could not estimate the gap he would suffer.
Xiang Mingzhang was reluctant and unwilling to leave, but he said in relief: "It's too early to say anything. It will take time to find a place. It's not easy."
Shen Ruozhen also took a step back: "Until we find him, I'd like to trouble Xiang Yue to continue to take him in."
The law firm is located in an office building in a bustling business district. Although it is Sunday, there are still many white-collar workers working overtime. Lawyer Lei has made coffee and is waiting in the meeting room.
Shen Ruozhen and Xiang Mingzhang went in one after another, sat down and exchanged greetings. The coffee was too hot, so Shen Ruozhen stirred it with a spoon. He looked up and found that Lawyer Lei was looking at him.
"Lawyer Lei?"
Looking away, Lawyer Lei pushed up his glasses and said, "Mr. Chu, Mr. Xiang, you two came to see me together. Do you have anything to entrust me with?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "It's about Yisi's shares."
The two sides chatted for about an hour, including consultations, requests, and discussion of unclear points, and determined the subsequent implementation process.
After leaving the law firm and getting in the car, Xiang Mingzhang said while fastening his seat belt, "Is it my illusion? Lawyer Lei stared at you several times when we were talking about the matter."
It was polite to look at the other person while speaking, but Shen Ruozhen also noticed that Lawyer Lei paid more attention to him than usual and said, "I feel the same way."
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "What's the reason?"
Shen Ruozhen tilted his head to look in the rearview mirror, but his face didn't change. He didn't know why.
The phone rang, interrupting the conversation. Xiang Mingzhang answered the call without saying anything, and hung up after saying "hmm" twice. He started the engine and drove directly into a road that could not turn.
The direction was opposite to the Chu family. Shen Ruozhen asked, "Where are you going?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Let's go to Manzhuang."
There is a high-end department store nearby. Shen Ruozhen said, "Then I'll buy something so I don't visit my aunt empty-handed."
The implication was to go to the South District. It had been several months since Shen Ruozhen last went there. That night he learned about Xiang Mingzhang's secret family affairs at the horse farm.
Arriving at Manzhuang, Shen Ruozhen said, "I wonder if Ruyun still recognizes me."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "You should recognize it. The horse is intelligent and knows the way and the people."
The scenery in the south area remains the same, and the villa has several windows open for ventilation. Not long ago, Aunt Qian moved in with three old friends of the Xiang family, making the whole house more lively.
Xiang Mingzhang and Shen Ruozhen went to the cloakroom and changed into riding clothes.
Shen Ruozhen is tall and thin, and everything she wears looks light and not bulky. Her slim-fitting pants fit close to her skin and are tucked into her high boots, revealing her waist and long legs.
He pulled his hair back and put on a round equestrian helmet, which added a bit of youthfulness to his look.
Xiang Mingzhang helped him put on his gloves and asked, "Did you ride horses often in the old society?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "Don't keep talking about the old society."
Xiang Mingzhang put it another way: "Did you often ride horses a long, long time ago?"
Shen Ruozhen almost laughed and replied, "Not often. I don't ride it much after I learn it."
Xiang Mingzhang asked, "How long have you been learning? When you see someone riding well, do you look at them more?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "No."
Xiang Mingzhang asked again: "Is there anyone riding a horse behind Master Shen, who wants to invite you to talk business and have a glass of vodka or something?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "I went abroad when I was sixteen, and I was in my early teens when I learned to ride a horse. I couldn't drink, and I wasn't good at business. I would sit on the grass and grimace after falling off the horse."
Xiang Mingzhang pressed his mouth and said, "Will you cry?"
Shen Ruozhen thought of the lost leather shoes again and said, "Don't cry, it's not steady."
Dusk was approaching, and the green horse farm turned into gold. Xiang Mingzhang and Shen Ruozhen led No. 1 and Ruyun out of the stable. The last time they rode horses was under the moon and west wind, and they used galloping to vent their emotions.
Now that everything is over, people’s state of mind has changed.
Xiang Mingzhang and Shen Ruozhen rode their horses for a few laps but couldn't decide who was better. They dismounted to feed carrots to No. 1 and Ruyun, and the two horses rushed to be the first.
Shen Ruozhen wanted to try horse number one, so he sat on the horse. Xiang Mingzhang was worried, so he led the horse for nearly half a circle.
"Let go." Shen Ruozhen pulled the reins.
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Don't show your teeth when you fall off your horse."
As soon as he let go, the horse's hooves stepped lightly, and Number One galloped away with its tail swinging. The setting sun in the sky was like a fire, and Shen Ruozhen galloped on the grass slope, his elegant figure left in the sunset.
The two of them were sweating after riding, so they went back to the villa to take a shower and Aunt Qian prepared dinner.
Lingtuaner smelled the fragrance and ran over, and was caught in Shen Ruozhen's arms. It didn't like to bark, but loved to scratch, and it climbed onto one of Shen Ruozhen's arms and fluttered.
As night fell and everyone else went to rest, Xiang Mingzhang said, "Don't hold it anymore. It'll get covered in fur."
Shen Ruozhen placed Ling Tuan'er on the sofa and went upstairs with Xiang Mingzhang. Riding a horse was too bumpy and his legs felt loose and heavy, so he followed behind slowly.
Xiang Mingzhang reached out and pulled him, turning onto the second-floor corridor, where a door to the south-facing suite was open.
When they got to the door, Xiang Mingzhang said, "I received a call this afternoon, saying that the mattress I ordered has arrived."
Shen Ruozhen recalled the brief conversation in the car and said, "You don't live here for many times a year. Do you still need a new mattress?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Because I got a new bed."
Shen Ruozhen was even more confused: "Why, the old one broke?"
Xiang Mingzhang took Shen Ruozhen into the room, through the small living room to the bedroom. There was a new mattress on the double bed, and the bedding was off-white, looking warm and clean.
Shen Ruozhen stood at the end of the bed in a daze. There was nothing special about this new bed, except that the headboard was very high and upholstered in leather, with a mirror embedded in the middle.
It took a long time from customization to shipping. It was the first time Xiang Mingzhang had seen it. He commented: "It's OK. It's basically the same as the design."
Shen Ruozhen hadn't come back to his senses yet: "Why is there a mirror at the head of the bed?"
"I told you that your back is beautiful." Xiang Mingzhang replied, "But you don't like it from behind, so I'll change the bed so you can see it in the mirror."
Shen Ruozhen couldn't believe it and even took a step back: "This is outrageous."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "This is very popular abroad."
Shen Ruozhen said: "It was not popular in the old society..."
"Don't keep talking about the old society." Xiang Mingzhang used his own method to fight back. He dragged Shen Ruozhen to the bed and didn't allow him to struggle. "Don't move around. You are not stable."
Before Shen Ruozhen could refute, his feet suddenly lightened as Xiang Mingzhang picked him up and he fell onto the bed, feeling dizzy as he bounced.
He turned his head and saw the overlapping bodies in the mirror, and quickly looked away. It was already too embarrassing to be fully dressed, and if... he would probably faint.
Shen Ruozhen's bright eyes moved back and forth, and he looked so frightened that he didn't know where to look.
Xiang Mingzhang hypocritically gave advice: "Qingshang, why don't you close your eyes?"
Shen Ruozhen is not a fish on the chopping board or a bird in a cage, but he is a fool who can't climb out of this couch.
He accepted his fate and closed his eyes. Xiang Mingzhang lowered his head impatiently.
And from the corner of my eye I looked in the mirror and saw what kissing was like.
(End of this chapter)