It took them several seconds to react - the young man in the driver's seat of the car in front of them, who was leaning over the steering wheel with his tie askew and two shirt buttons unbuttoned, and a bit disheveled and decadently beautiful, was Qin Lou, the general manager of their company.
The air was frozen for a few seconds, and the sound of low voices could be heard from colleagues standing in the back row.
"The general manager personally served as her driver and waited for three hours. What kind of treatment is this?"
"Level? Mr. Qin is the chairman himself. No other level in the senior management can get this kind of treatment."
"As long as you have the right face, you can have everything you want... Xiaoyun is in trouble this time. She just offended Qin Qing, and then President Qin showed up. If Qin Qing keeps whispering to her tonight, she will have to pack up and leave tomorrow, right?"
"I saw Qin Qing being kept busy by Team Leader Chu for the past month, and I thought that President Qin had lost interest in her. I didn't expect that... Fortunately, we didn't say anything."
"… "
Amidst the conversation that was so quiet that it was impossible to hear clearly, someone with a quick mind reacted and hurried forward to smile flatteringly at the car: "Boss Qin, why did you come here in person without informing us? Otherwise, how could we dare to let you wait downstairs?"
"… "
Qin Lou glanced at the man without interest, and his sight fell on Song Shu. The corners of his mouth curled up.
"I don't have anything to do, so I drove out for a walk and picked up Qin Qing to go back to the company."
Everyone: “…”
Let’s not talk about whether this “by the way” is true or not - what kind of CEO-level hobby is driving for a walk
Qin Lou had said so, so they naturally couldn't refute or expose it. The few people who had some mocking or indifferent expressions just now were mixed in with other kind smiles, so Song Shu couldn't tell them apart.
"Qin Qing, President Qin is here to pick you up, get in the car quickly."
"I'll let you know if there's any news."
"Be careful on the road."
"… "
Amidst all the noise, Song Shu didn't even bother to smile. She sat in the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt.
“… Go back.”
Qin Lou noticed that Song Shu was in a bad mood, so he didn't say much. He changed gears and stepped on the accelerator, and the car slid lightly along the wide road along the porch.
The team members who were ignored stood where they were.
The awkward silence lasted for a few seconds, and someone whispered, "Tsk, why are you so arrogant? She ignored us when we said goodbye to her. Did she really think that Boss Qin was flattering her by coming to pick her up?"
"If that face didn't look like Mr. Qin's first love, would Mr. Qin have taken a second look at her?"
"When President Qin is really not interested in her in the future, she will cry."
"that is… "
In the car.
Qin Lou asked: "Did you see Lu Yunkai at the celebration banquet tonight?"
Song Shu was silent for a few seconds, then nodded slowly, "Yes, I saw it."
"Did you get the answer?"
"Maybe... I got it."
Qin Lou heard the strangeness in Song Shu's tone and glanced at her sideways. "The answer you got is different from your initial guess?"
“There was actually no guessing at the beginning.”
Song Shu slowly exhaled, she turned her head to look out the window at the night, watching the lights on the roadside forming a colorful river like flowing water. Song Shu leaned her head gently against the seat, sighed tiredly, but the corners of her lips curled up.
She said in a gentle voice: "Of the two vice presidents of VIO, I have never met Lv Yunkai. But I have some impression of the other one. I forgot which time she was on a business trip, working on a big project, and I followed her, and we met a young man together... I was still young at that time, and my mother asked me to call him brother."
"… "
Qin Lou's thoughts were racing, and he guessed something as soon as Song Shu started talking.
His eyes darkened slightly, but he didn't speak in the end. He just listened to Song Shu speaking slowly in the car in a voice so light that it sounded like he was floating.
"I remember my mother praised him many times, saying that this young man was capable and kind-hearted, and would achieve great things in the future... But actually, I only saw him once, and I thought I had forgotten what he looked like."
Song Shu stopped talking a little abruptly.
Then she laughed softly.
"But no. I didn't forget."
I haven't forgotten.
Tonight, she stood in front of the long table holding a champagne glass. Lv Yunkai's words were like a bucket of ice water that soaked her whole body. At that moment, the young man's face, crossing the long river of more than ten years, suddenly appeared in front of her without any warning - at that time, there was still a bit of the immature smile of a young man, his warm hands touching her expressionless face, and his ambitious, eager, admiring and respectful eyes...
The biting cold penetrated into every pore of the body.
It was so cold that Song Shu wanted to shiver, and so cold that she wanted to laugh.
The knife that smiled and stabbed at Bai Song - no matter who was holding the knife - that knife actually belonged to her former relatives and descendants whom she had tried to protect and support!
It was the very people she wanted to protect and support who pushed her into an irretrievable and unjust death.
"So I didn't even consider that answer. Uncle Yu said that the senior executive of Qin who secretly took a lot of prepared information to testify in court against my mother was one of the two vice presidents of Vio. The first time I saw Raymond Lam, I told him that it couldn't be Raymond Lam, it must be Lu Yunkai - Raymond Lam has such a straight character, everyone knows that he is selfless and treats people fairly and justly, so even when the confidants related to my mother were implicated, he was the only one who could not be shaken - and I have always believed this, I have never considered, or perhaps I have not allowed myself to think about other possibilities..."
Song Shu chuckled.
"Otherwise, if he is the one who repays kindness with enmity, if he is the one who pushes the only woman who was willing to lend him a helping hand into an eternal hell, then this is—"
Song Shu's voice suddenly choked.
After two seconds, she smiled again.
"This is really ridiculous, isn't it?" Song Shu turned around and looked at Qin Lou.
In the blurred vision, the light and shadow inside and outside the car were refracted and bent, twisted into colorful spots of light and colors, and also obscured the figure.
It was only then that Song Shu suddenly realized—
She raised her hand and touched her cold cheek, and her fingertips and palms were wet.
She lowered her head, looking blankly at the palm of her hand in her blurry vision.
Her mind was blank now.
It was like a patient suffering from snow blindness walking alone in the heavy snow. She suddenly couldn't find any way out and couldn't see any hope.
Turn the steering wheel to the right.
Qin Lou parked the car on the side of the road. He unbuckled his seat belt, leaned over with a frown, held her in his arms, lowered his head and wiped away her tears.
"Why are you crying?"
"I just... feel very tired."
The traces of tears on Song Shu's face faded as did her emotions. For the first time, she allowed herself to lean completely into Qin Lou's arms, her eyes lowered, and she murmured.
"The father of her daughter, whom she wanted to protect and redeem, dug a trap for her. The younger generation whom she supported and protected pushed her into it. All the other people who knew about it stood indifferently at the edge of the deep pit, looking down at her, but no one spoke up. No one, from beginning to end, such a big case was able to be adjudicated so quickly, with complete evidence, and everyone acquiesced, without encountering any obstruction or rebuttal..."
Song Shu exhaled slowly. The breath was stuck in her chest and pent up in her heart, making it painful for her to breathe.
She looked out the cold car window expressionlessly and could only lean closer to Qin Lou, trying to absorb the only bit of warmth.
"Tonight I kept thinking, it would have been better if she hadn't seen those people before she died, it would have been better if she didn't know anything. Otherwise, she would have seen those people's faces with her own eyes, and seen their ugly beastly faces exposed after they took off their masks. She had been so kind all her life, how desperate she would have been when she really saw those things..."
The car window was lowered to a gap a few fingers wide, and the wind blowing over the river, which was already filled with the scent of early autumn, brought a cool breeze.
Song Shu shrugged slightly.
She lowered her head and smiled silently without any emotion in her eyes.
"This world is so cold, Qin Lou."
"Yeah." Qin Lou responded, "You just found out about this."
"I knew that before, but I didn't know it would be this cold."
Qin Lou narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a moment he turned his head, then bent down and gently kissed the girl's forehead.
"I knew it earlier. I knew it when I was 7. The adult world was cold and boring. But then a doll came in."
Song Shu was slightly stunned.
Qin Lou smiled, "The doll's arms are warmer than anywhere else, especially on thundering nights, when she hugged me and said, 'I'm here'."
Qin Lou slowly tightened his arms and hugged Song Shu completely in his arms.
He whispered in her ear, laughing softly and gently, a madman that had never laughed before.
"No matter how cold the world gets, doll—I'll always be here."
In mid-October, the third quarter reports of various companies were released, and Vio's third quarter performance appraisal also ended and the results were announced on the company's electronic bulletin board.
This should have been the best time for departments and even individuals to evaluate each other's opinions, but everyone's attention was diverted to another public report issued by the Assistant Secretary's Office on the 22nd floor.
The public report contains a bunch of polite words in accordance with the regulations, but has only one core message: Qin Qing, an employee of the Legal and Compliance Department, will be transferred to the Assistant Secretary Group on the 22nd floor one week after the public announcement because of his excellent performance and outstanding achievements, to fill the vacancies of Legal Advisor and Assistant Compliance Officer in the Secretary Group.
As soon as the news came out, it caused an uproar in all departments.
Although the position of assistant to the general manager is half a level lower than that of the deputy general manager, because of the direct influence and contact with the company's most core decision-making executives, the position of assistant to the general manager is often regarded as a position with higher power than the deputy general manager.
However, unlike the appointment, dismissal and promotion of other positions in the company's tree structure, the position of assistant to the general manager is unique, and is often directly transferred from individual departments or parachuted in after interviews - so it is easy to make mistakes in appointment and dismissal. Once this position is wrong, the impact on the company will be great.
In order to avoid such disasters, vio simply implemented a decentralized cooperation mechanism within the assistant secretary group. Although there is a general person in charge, An Xingyun, the others still have the power to report directly to the general manager.
The team members can check and balance each other and also disperse and balance the work pressure. Today, there are five assistants in the assistant secretary team, except An Xingyun who is in charge, the other four have their own division of labor.
But even so, any position in the assistant secretary group is still something that all ordinary employees covet but cannot obtain.
Now, Qin Qing has been in the company for just over a month and has been promoted directly to the 22nd level. Naturally, this matter has been widely discussed in the company.
At noon in the staff cafeteria, everyone gathered around the table could hear people talking about this matter.
"Just because of a similar face, the general manager put his lover directly into the assistant secretary group next to his own? Could this news be false?"
"Of course not. Didn't you see the bulletin board? We have gone through so many procedures, including assessment, written report on proposed appointment and dismissal, appointment and dismissal adjustment plan, and the content and opinions of the discussion meeting of the assistant secretary group. All the materials are on the electronic bulletin board. I think this has been prepared for at least half a month."
"Half a month? I think it's more than that."
"Look at this face of his. How good was his parents' birth? He joined the company half a month ago and was promoted to the 22nd floor. Even riding a rocket can't get that fast!"
"I think the general manager is crazy. Isn't he afraid that the top management of the board of directors will impeach him?"
"Who dares? The Qin family is the absolute controlling shareholder of Vio, and after Mr. Qin retired from the front line, all the shares and industries of the Qin family were transferred to his grandson Qin Lou without a single drop left. Qin Lou has the final say in the board of directors. Who dares to go against his will? Aren't you afraid of being kicked out?"
"You're exaggerating a bit. It's not that safe. If it involves some fundamental interests or even life-and-death issues, and the other shareholders cooperate and make a desperate move, it will still pose a great threat to Qin Lou."
"But for such a small matter as an assistant, no one will object, so we just wait for the approval of the Human Resources Department, and then go through the review and interview process with the General Manager - at that time, he will really be promoted."
"Speaking of the Human Resources Department's approval, Qin Qing won't be able to get promoted without going through Luan Qiaoqing. Will Minister Luan really let her go?"
"That's hard to say."
"If anyone knows someone in the HR department, go ask them..."
at the same time.
vio capital 23rd floor, private area.
This week of public announcement, in addition to going through the review process with the Human Resources Department, is also used for the handover of work for employees who are appointed, dismissed, promoted or deposed.
However, Song Shu had not been in VIO for long as Qin Qing. Apart from using her departmental position to review a lot of archival materials in the early stages, she had only followed the AI investment project thoroughly.
After the documents were archived, she really didn't have any work to hand over.
So, unlike a certain general manager who was so busy that he almost forgot to eat and sleep and worked overtime to catch up, Song Shu was particularly free these two days. His daily routine was to go up to the 23rd floor and then sit on the sofa with Qin Lou's personal laptop to study.
Qin Lou's computer is connected to the company's intranet and has the only highest authority in all electronic databases - Song Shu can access these project materials freely.
Qin Lou had just finished reviewing the company's third quarter financial statements that had just been submitted. When he stood up, rubbing his stiff neck, he saw Song Shu sitting cross-legged on the sofa. Her small face, without any makeup on, was plain and pretty, and a little expressionless and serious.
It’s exactly the same expression she had when she was solving difficult math Olympiad problems.
Qin Lou couldn't help but recall a few scenes, then he smiled silently, sat down next to Song Shu, rested his arms on the back of the sofa behind her, and held her loosely in his arms.
"What are you looking at?" he asked softly.
Song Shu raised his eyes, but his posture did not change at all. "I am studying Raymond Lam's projects and partners over the years, as well as the corresponding network of relationships that can be drawn."
Qin Lou raised his eyebrows and said, "You suspect there are also people around him—"
"No need to doubt it. Uncle Yu has collected solid clues over the years that show the close connection between these tools and the black hands. The smaller ones have been caught by Uncle Yu and his men. Now we have finally found the main clue. I just need to follow the clues and pull out the biggest black hands."
"Do you have any suspects now?"
"Yes. In fact, I have been thinking about a question for the past few years - the amount of money involved in that case and the wide range of people involved are definitely not something that can be handled in a short period of time. So before my mother, did the general manager of the Qin Group at that time not notice it at all?"
"You suspect Bai Song's previous general manager, Deng Xiaokai."
"That's right." Song Shu tapped on his subordinate's keyboard and pulled up some materials. "Many projects that he personally approved had close dealings with Qin Fujun and Song Chengjun's subsidiaries. If it was Deng Xiaokai who protected them in the previous term, then many of the links in the middle can be explained."
Qin Lou searched his mind for a moment and said, "Deng Xiaokai was demoted after Bai Song took office. Later, Qin's company ran into trouble. Not long after, he transferred his shares, left the company with his confidants, and founded a new technology company—"
"Xiaokai Technology Company, its main business is AI." Song Shu's lips curled up silently, "The investment project I followed Chu Xiangbin before happened to be a competitor of theirs. When doing due diligence, I deliberately took over the investigation of competitors - I took the opportunity to investigate many things about him through several accounting firms, law firms, financial information providers and other intermediary institutions. I have conveyed the integrated information to Uncle Yu and Yu Qisheng, they are more experienced than me in this regard."
"… "
After not hearing any response for a long time, Song Shu felt a little strange. She raised her head slowly and asked, "Why don't you say anything... Why are you looking at me like that?"
Qin Lou propped his cheekbone upside down, "How did I look at you?"
Song Shu: “…”
Song Shu was silent for two seconds, then lowered his voice, "Didn't you eat this morning and this afternoon? Didn't you eat last night either?"
Qin Lou was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Do I look that 'hungry' at you?"
"Yeah, it's been like this since a few days ago."
"Then why are you willing to come up? Aren't you afraid of being... "
Qin Lou, who was approaching, was pushed away by a plain slap. Song Shu joked with him and his eyes returned to the computer in front of him, while speaking in a flat tone.
"How dare you bring that up? If you hadn't suddenly posted that document on the bulletin board, would I have been forced to not even be able to go to the employee cafeteria?"
"Why can't you go?"
“… I have no interest in being treated like a monkey while eating.”
"Then I'll go with you?"
"Will it help one of the monkeys to be visited together?"
Qin Lou curled his lips, leaned forward and stuck close to Song Shu, "Then we won't go either. It's just right. You stay with me on the 23rd floor every day. I can stay at home."
Song Shu glanced at him helplessly.
When he turned his gaze back to the computer in front of him for the third time, Song Shu hesitated.
She stared at the screen for two seconds, turned her head, looked at Qin Lou and asked half jokingly and half seriously: "This computer has the core management authority of the VIO electronic information database. Are you so confident in handing it over to me?"
Qin Lou buried his head in her long hair. He had been tortured by the third quarter report for several days. Now he finally sat down to rest. He was very tired and asked in a lazy and hoarse voice, "What are you worried about?"
"After all, theoretically speaking, Qin and I have a grudge?"
"What grudge?" Qin Lou rubbed her long hair, raised his head, and showed his handsome face that was too sleepy to open his eyes. "Is the grudge deep? Then I'll give you their general manager and chairman Qin Lou as compensation, the kind of compensation with my body, and you can do whatever you want with him."
After saying this, he buried his head again with sleepy eyes.
Song Shu froze for a few seconds, turned his head expressionlessly, said nothing, and continued working with a calm expression.
—But the slightly red earlobes betrayed her.
The huge and empty 23rd floor was quiet for two minutes.
Song Shu suddenly heard someone laugh softly beside her. Her fingers that were tapping the keyboard paused and she glanced down slightly, "What are you laughing at?"
"Laugh at what you just said."
"…Did your reflexes go all the way around the world?"
"I was still thinking about the problem in the report, but it was temporarily stored without me thinking about it. My brain just took it out again just now."
"… "
Song Shu had heard this kind of magical talk from Qin Lou many times when he was in high school ten years ago, so he didn't find it strange at this moment. He listened to him continue to talk -
"Then what."
Qin Lou laughed again.
He looked up. "Not to mention the highest management authority of an electronic information database, even if it's the entire VIO and all my other assets - if you want it, just ask and I'll give it all to you."
Qin Lou paused.
"You know this, right?"
Song Shu stared at the computer interface quietly for a moment, silently curling up the corners of his lips.
"I knew it before. Now... I also know that you are still as crazy as ever."
Qin Lou thought about it and said, "It's actually different now."
"..." Song Shu looked back, "What's different?"
"Before, crazy people didn't have much demand for dolls, but now it's different."
"Now, what do you want?"
Qin Lou said nothing and held Song Shu in his arms.
Song Shu understood and smiled helplessly, "Your request is to exchange me for you?"
Qin Lou shook his head.
He rested his head on the girl's neck and whispered in a low voice.
"The requirement is to give you the madman."
"… What?"
"You can take everything from a madman, provided it includes himself."
"… "
"Why aren't you talking?"
"say what."
"You can say whatever you want."
Song Shu paused, and after a few seconds she lowered her eyes as if she wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. In the end, she neither laughed nor cried, she just let go of the computer and hugged the person next to her back.
"Mad... bastard."
Qin Lou also laughed.
"Your crazy."