They arrived in Nanjing near noon. The hotel they stayed in was not far from the conference center, so they had plenty of time. After checking in, Chu Shichen accompanied Xiang Mingzhang to the room to put their luggage.
In the business suite with black and white as the main colors and an open office area, Chu Shichen took out the documents and counted them one by one.
Xiang Mingzhang ordered two lunches. When the waiter brought them, he washed his hands, sat down on the sofa, and said, "Come and have something to eat."
Chu Shichen held the tablet computer and sat in the queen chair at the other end, not even touching the edge of the plate, and said, "Mr. Xiang, I'll check with you one last time."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "As long as the information is complete, it will be fine."
Chu Shichen said: "Well, strategic management reports and profitability analysis data are mainly these two categories."
The seminar was about the industry's "billing" problem, and lasted three and a half hours, divided into two sessions, with a half-hour break in between. The 40-minute free exchange time was placed at the beginning to allow participants to get to know each other.
Chu Shichen said: "According to the plan, it will end at six o'clock. There will be a banquet at eight o'clock in the evening. It is of a social nature. You can bring an assistant or a dance partner to attend."
Xiang Mingzhang often travels on business, so he can handle it. Besides, Chu Shichen arranged it in an orderly manner, so he has no worries: "I know, let's eat."
After being bored in the carriage all the way, Chu Shichen had a poor appetite. He poked at the tablet and said, "I'm not hungry, and—"
Xiang Mingzhang picked up the phone on the side table and asked the restaurant to send him a refreshing salad. He didn't even eat the meal because he had no hobby of exploiting his subordinates.
The waiter brought a honeydew melon and almond salad, which could replenish some sugar and energy. Chu Shichen couldn't refuse, so he picked up the fork and started eating. It was sweet and delicious, very much to his taste.
Xiang Mingzhang was full, so he picked up his tablet to look at it himself. When he unlocked it, a list of attendees for the seminar appeared on the screen.
This list is publicly available and contains a total of twenty-six people. Chu Shichen supplemented the information of each person, including company and position, and derived which companies have business dealings with Xiang Yue, have overlapping fields, and have competition or cooperation intentions.
Xiang Mingzhang flipped through more than a dozen pages before he finished reading them. He asked, "How long did you do the homework?"
Chu Shichen swallowed the last piece of honeydew melon: "It just so happens that the first two days are rest days, so it's not a problem."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "It's not a war, wouldn't it be too clear-headed?"
Chu Shichen said: "It's better to be prepared."
Xiang Rang stared at the screen, hiding the admiration in his eyes. Although letting Chu Shichen be his secretary was not a helpless move, it was a bit of a compromise.
He had to change his mind during this period. Chu Shichen's execution ability aside, his mindset towards things was definitely mature, and he didn't look like a newcomer working for the first time at all.
Xiang Mingzhang was a little puzzled. Chu Shichen had been idle all the time. His personality and temperament changed after he lost his memory. How come even his brain was upgraded and optimized
It seems that what was lost was not the memory, but a system bug.
Chu Shichen looked at the time and asked the driver to prepare the car. After a while, Xiang Mingzhang set off for the conference center.
Assistants were not allowed to attend the seminar, so Chu Shichen had time to catch his breath. He returned to his room, which was not that big, but faced a mountain view and was quiet and peaceful.
Mrs. Chu called to ask whether it was cold or hot in Nanjing, whether anyone had eaten duck, and whether the cherry blossoms in Jiming Temple had all withered.
Chu Shichen just replied "not cold", and knew nothing else. Mrs. Chu was not satisfied and asked him to take some pictures.
There was a booklet on the table in the room, which listed the scenic spots of Nanjing. Chu Shichen agreed while flipping through the booklet. The ancient city, which had once worn medals and also had scars, now had a new look. If time permitted, he really wanted to walk around.
Unfortunately, it’s too late today. There will be a banquet after the seminar, and we have to make some arrangements.
In the evening, Xiang Mingzhang returned to the hotel. He was not interested in banquets and the like. He sorted out the content of the meeting before taking a shower and changing clothes.
After choosing a shirt and putting it on, he sent a message to Chu Shichen: Come over here.
Chu Shichen came over quickly, wearing a black suit, his hair and pupils were also as black as ink. He walked slowly and was always calm and composed in his movements.
There were two pairs of cufflinks on the table. Without Xiang Mingzhang's instruction, Chu Shichen picked out a pair of sapphire ones and walked over to help Xiang Mingzhang put them on.
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Why did you choose this pair?"
Chu Shichen said: "I like blue."
Xiang Mingzhang lowered his head and stretched out his wrist for Chu Shichen to fiddle with. His hands were slender and clean, and the agate rings and cufflinks between his fingers were a very similar azure blue.
Put it on, Chu Shichen said: "I took stomach medicine and hangover medicine."
Xiang Mingzhang straightened his tie and said, "You keep it in your pocket."
The dinner was held in the open air at the hotel's golf course. The green lawn was vast and endless, the long tables were piled with bouquets and meals, and the lights mixed with the moonlight made the surroundings as bright as day.
Chu Shichen took a glass of champagne. He saw people in suits and ties all around him. Everyone had a smile on their face, and everyone who passed by would nod to show the reaction of a gentleman or lady.
This feeling was very familiar. In the old mansions, chambers of commerce, and money houses, banquets were held like a revolving lantern. Chu Shichen was often the guest of honor. Others praised him for his brilliance and splendor. He was bothered by the effort to be smooth and attentive, but in fact he was very tired of it.
No matter how difficult the world is, there is always wine and meat in the rich families. One may even rely on the extravagant life to seek a little comfort in troubled times. After being drunk and having danced enough waltz, the lovemaking will officially begin with holding hands and embracing waists.
"Hello, are you alone?"
When someone came to chat with him, Chu Shichen put aside his past and raised his glass to socialize with them.
As the night deepened, the lights became insufficient, perhaps intentionally so, the dimmer light created a more relaxing atmosphere, and the music changed to a dance song.
Chu Shichen chatted with the strange guest for no more than five minutes, and he stopped when he was brief and distant, so the other party naturally left.
Chu Shichen wisely stopped.
Two minutes later, the female guest was still smiling and showed no intention of leaving. Chu Shichen could only see Xiang Mingzhang's back. He guessed that the other person's expression should be equally happy.
The dance music was cheerful, and the female guest generously extended her hand and invited Xiang Mingzhang to dance with her. Xiang Mingzhang shook his head, and the female guest shrugged to indicate that it was okay, and it was obvious that he was a person with a good personality.
There were quite a few people hanging out in groups of three or four, mature men and women, on a nice summer night, just a glance at each other was enough.
Chu Shichen rejected several ambiguous hints and drank the champagne in the glass. There is one thing in common in the world of fame and fortune from ancient times to the present: all the beauty has nothing to do with him.
He pursed his lips in self-mockery and suddenly felt very bored.
The phone vibrated and Xiang Mingzhang sent a message: I want to go back to my room.
Chu Shichen glanced in the direction of Xiang Mingzhang and the female guest. He had dealt with some young masters in the past, so he understood what it meant to hit it off with a beautiful woman on such a night.
Chu Shichen quietly left the scene, returned to the suite and asked someone to change the bedding, add a bottle of red wine, and hang up a suit for easy changing tomorrow morning.
He thought with frustration that he had fallen to the point of taking care of such things. Having fulfilled his duties as a secretary, he took the meeting materials from the coffee table when he left, both for fear of spoiling the mood and to be on the safe side.
After returning to his room, Chu Shichen washed up and lay on the bed to read some information. He didn't know much about the billing model and didn't quite understand some parts.
Chu Shichen felt more and more sleepy the more he read. He closed his eyes, but his mind was in a mess and couldn't calm down. Without burning incense to help him sleep, he tossed and turned for an hour but couldn't fall asleep.
Suddenly, he couldn't help wondering what was going on in the suite? Would it delay his work schedule tomorrow morning
The phone vibrated again. Chu Shichen held his forehead and answered it. He didn't look at the caller ID and said, "Hello?"
Xiang Mingzhang's cold voice came: "I'm not fine."
Chu Shichen took the phone away in surprise and confirmed that it was Xiang Mingzhang calling. Why would he call at this time... He put the phone to his ear again: "What's the matter?"
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Did you take the meeting materials away?"
Chu Shichen: “Yes.”
"Send it to me." Xiang Mingzhang said and hung up.
Chu Shichen woke up from his sleepiness. He put on a bathrobe and went to deliver the information. He knocked on the door of the suite. Xiang Mingzhang's cold face matched the tone of his voice during the call perfectly.
The room was quiet. The bottle of red wine was opened and only one glass was poured and placed on the coffee table. Next to it was a lit laptop. Xiang Mingzhang was dressed neatly and the bedding on the double bed was flat, obviously no one had touched it.
Chu Shichen handed over the information and was speechless.
Xiang Mingzhang took it and sneered speechlessly. It was not good to offend someone in a social occasion, and the other party was a lady from the organizer, so he sent a message to Chu Shichen to ask him to think of an excuse to help him get out of it.
Unexpectedly, Chu Shichen actually left him.
Xiang Mingzhang thought that his hint was not enough. When he returned to the room, he realized from all the signs that he was going to Xuanwu Lake, while Chu Shichen thought he was going to Qinhuai River.
The air was filled with awkwardness, and Chu Shichen tried to make amends: "Do you need help?"
"No need." Xiang Mingzhang said, "If it is not necessary for reference, I will not disturb your sweet dreams at this time."
Chu Shichen said embarrassedly: "It doesn't matter, I'll go back then."
He stepped back and turned around. Suddenly, Xiang Mingzhang pointed out from behind: "Secretary Chu, don't act on your own next time. I may not be interested in enjoying the good fortune you think I have."
Chu Shichen misunderstood and admitted: "I'm sorry, I was meddling."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Given your lifestyle, I can understand why you think in the wrong way."
Chu Shichen turned around and said, "You and that lady are a perfect match, and you had a great time talking to each other, so I misunderstood."
"You can tell from the back of my head that I'm having a good chat? Even if that's the case, you don't know what it means to just go along with the situation?" Xiang Mingzhang said, "Or do you think I'm so casual that I want to sleep with someone after knowing them for just a few hours?"
Chu Shichen did make a wrong judgment and it was difficult for him to defend himself.
Xiang Mingzhang asked again: "Or is it because you are used to being so casual, so you judge others by yourself?"
Chu Shichen couldn't overturn this identity's past behavior, so he said patiently, "I don't remember what happened in the past."
Xiang Mingzhang stood up and took a step towards Chu Shichen. His face showed unyielding and unhappy expression, as if he was bullying someone.
He finally warned: "Don't make such a mistake again next time."
Chu Shichen said: "There won't be a next time. I will never do this again."
Unexpectedly, Xiang Mingzhang bent down, picked up the wine glass, and drank the red wine at the bottom of the glass: "What if I really want to do it someday and need your arrangement?"
Chu Shichen's eyes flickered: "Then I hope you can tell me clearly."
"Wine is too sweet. It's not enough to cheer you up. It's only good for refreshing you." Xiang Mingzhang told him, with a faint smell of alcohol. "If we really come to the point, I'll ask you for a glass of vodka."
(End of this chapter)