Chapter 8

Gu Xiaoqing hesitated for a long time beside them before finally speaking up: "Boss, I believe that although the big boss of their company is not present, this person can definitely make decisions. They are not foolish; with the current advancement of information, they are likely dragging this out to compare prices with others."

Zhang Yaoyang lowered his head to look at Gu Xiaoqing, who was rubbing her foot on the ground, and said nothing

Zhang Yaoyang is also a person who can adapt to circumstances; even in the most difficult times, he never considered giving up. He did not feel ashamed to borrow money from a woman. He thought that if Gu Xiaoqing were his wife, they would be a typical couple facing hardships together, a story of starting a business through adversity. Unfortunately, Gu Xiaoqing and he are nothing to each other; if one must forcefully say there is some kind of relationship, it would at most be a somewhat ambiguous superior-subordinate relationship.

The silver empire of Yingbin Road, you can see it as soon as you arrive

Zhang Yaoyang looked directly at Gu Xiaoqing and said, "I have also given him quite a few hints these past few days, yet I haven't seen any reaction from him."

Zhang Yaoyang appeared somewhat foolish as he squinted his eyes while looking at Gu Xiaoqing

Gu Xiaoqing is currently the team leader of the design group at this studio. She is now overseeing more than a dozen designers, and this is the best quarter for the studio's business. After a busy day at work, she returned home late at night. She was awakened by a phone call just as she was sleeping soundly.

Gu Xiaoqing straightened her back and continued, "However, everyone has their own selfish motives, and the money is not solely contributed by him. In my opinion, such a small company may not have a very sound system. Once the contract is signed and the payment is made by the other party, you can still give them a kickback."

Zhang Yaoyang, considering his image, booked a room at the only four-star hotel in Binzhou. He was generous enough to reserve two single rooms. When the two parted at the door of the room, Zhang Yaoyang said to Gu Xiaoqing: "If you can't fall asleep for a while, take another look at the materials I gave you. We are meeting the client tomorrow, so make sure to prepare well."

Zhang Yaoyang got drunk here, and I asked you to come pick him up

Their tickets were for upper and lower berths. Upon reaching their seats, Zhang Yaoyang naturally tossed his luggage onto the lower berth and then raised his chin towards Gu Xiaoqing, saying, "Your seat is on top." After that, he ignored her and took out his laptop, starting to fiddle with it.

The next day at noon, Gu Xiaoqing indeed handed a brand new Apple phone to Zhang Yaoyang. At that moment in the hotel lobby, Gu Xiaoqing looked pale, with large dark circles under her eyes. She weakly smiled at Zhang Yaoyang and handed him the bag containing the phone.

Zhang Yaoyang ultimately signed this contract, but the price was reasonable, without the exorbitant profits he had imagined. Although he felt a bit regretful, this was nonetheless the first project his company had secured, which provided him with some comfort.

He knew that Gu Xiaoqing took a long-distance bus to Jinan. How dangerous could it be for a single girl to travel alone on a night bus? He could imagine that the girl must have stayed awake all night, arriving in a strange city to inquire about places selling mobile phones, and then rushing to take a bus back for several hours. How arduous must that journey have been? It is easy to imagine. He could think that this girl must have stayed awake all night, arriving in a strange city to inquire about places selling mobile phones, and then rushing to take a bus back for several hours. How arduous must that journey have been? It is easy to imagine.

Zhang Yaoyang, holding his phone, found himself at a loss for words. He struggled to understand this girl. Before Gu Xiaoqing, he had recruited several girls, but they all left within three days. At that time, he heard that Gu Xiaoqing was a local resident and assumed she would also leave after a few days. To his surprise, this girl has managed to stay under his demanding circumstances and has even achieved this level of performance.

Gu Xiaoqing had no particular thoughts about such treatment; she was just grateful to the heavens that Zhang Yaoyang, with his usual demeanor, did not force her to sit in the hard seat at the front. She said nothing, threw her luggage onto the upper bunk, and obediently climbed up.

After arriving here, Zhang Yaoyang learned through various inquiries that the true big boss had other businesses and was rarely in Binzhou. All matters, big and small, in this company were decided by the partner who received him. However, after interacting with this person, he found him to be quite slick, with words that were watertight. There was no discussion of serious matters; he only mentioned that the boss was on a business trip, and he could not make decisions alone, asking them to wait a few more days until the boss returned for further discussions. For the past two days, Zhang Yaoyang had merely accompanied this person for meals and drinks, without engaging in any serious business.

Gu Xiaoqing has been busy at the company all day today. Zhang Yaoyang's current company is no longer the same as it was in the old district during the days of poverty and hardship.

The train swayed gently for more than 10 hours and finally arrived at a city in Binzhou, Shandong. They disembarked in the early morning.

In fact, Zhang Yaoyang did not expect Gu Xiaoqing to answer him. Over the past few days, Gu Xiaoqing's performance has been commendable; although not overly dull, it has not been particularly clever either. What he needs now is simply someone to talk to and vent his frustrations.

"Shandong." Zhang Yaoyang did not even turn his head, responding to her impatiently with a single sentence

In this sleep, Gu Xiaoqing slept very comfortably. Around 9 o'clock, she was abruptly awakened by Zhang Yaoyang. After a hurried wash-up, Zhang Yaoyang didn't even let her have breakfast and dragged her off to visit a client.

Zhang Yaoyang took out his phone and said, "What should I do? How could such a small market possibly have it for sale? I can't just give him my old one, can I?"

"How much can you drink?" Zhang Yaoyang asked her again

Zhang Yaoyang's current company has been renamed to Xingcheng Architectural Design Studio, having moved from the old town to the southern part of the city. The studio has also grown from the original two people to now more than 40 individuals, clearly becoming a well-established medium-sized enterprise.

This trip to Binzhou did not go as smoothly as Zhang Yaoyang had hoped. He had been here for two days and had not yet met the real big boss. The person who received them was the partner of the true big boss, the same person he had contacted over the phone initially. At that time, when he asked Gu Xiaoqing for a quote, he thought to himself that Binzhou was a small place, and this company had only recently been established; the development project they were working on was their first. He was hoping for a stroke of luck to get a good deal. To his surprise, the other party actually invited him over for a detailed discussion. At that time, when he asked Gu Xiaoqing for a quote, he thought to himself that Binzhou was a small place, and this company had only recently been established; the development project they were working on was their first. He was hoping for a stroke of luck to get a good deal. To his surprise, the other party actually invited him over for a detailed discussion

After Gu Xiaoqing entered the room, she did not change her clothes and went straight to sleep. Her nerves were remarkably strong; she never had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds. She had just been pulled up from a drowsy state on the train, and she felt utterly miserable. Now, seeing the bed, she was ready to sleep again. As for the information that Zhang Yaoyang mentioned, she had nearly memorized it. Initially, she was the one who sent the quotation to this company. At that time, she thought Zhang Yaoyang's quoted price was somewhat outrageous, but it seemed that this time he had been deceived. The other party actually invited him to come and negotiate.

Gu Xiaoqing smiled foolishly and said, "You will eventually draw for me."

Zhang Yaoyang was extremely anxious; he couldn't just waste time here, yet he felt a sense of reluctance to leave like this. After they came out of the restaurant at noon, the two of them, with forced smiles, sent off the ancestor who was glowing red from drinking. He could no longer hold back and kicked the steps at the entrance of the restaurant fiercely. After turning around in anger, he turned to Gu Xiaoqing, who was standing beside him, and asked, "What do you think is going on here?"

Gu Xiaoqing was printing materials at that time. When he asked her this question, she was momentarily taken aback. After a brief pause, she replied, "I can drink." She thought to herself, who can't drink alcohol? It's just a matter of how much one drinks.

Gu Xiaoqing feels that Zhang Yaoyang has developed a habit of exploiting her, but every time he pushes her hard, he also shows a bit of gentle compassion. In her view, this person's ability to manage others is quite sophisticated

Zhang Yaoyang is quite ostentatious; despite having little money, he used an Apple phone. At that time, the Apple phone had just been launched in the United States, and there were no official channels for it in the Chinese market; the available ones were all smuggled goods. When it was first released, it sold for over 10,000.

On the train back, Zhang Yaoyang asked Gu Xiaoqing: "Tell me the truth, why did you stay in my company?"

Zhang Yaoyang asked with a smile, "You haven't been given any serious work to do here, have you?"

Zhang Yaoyang's company did not start off smoothly. During the most difficult times, Gu Xiaoqing went three consecutive months without receiving a salary. Later, Xu Hao could no longer endure and left, leaving only her and Zhang Yaoyang in the entire company. When Zhang Yaoyang had no money to entertain clients, Gu Xiaoqing even had to borrow money from her. Eventually, Gu Xiaoqing ran out of money herself, so she began driving a taxi for her father. A large portion of the money she earned had to be used to support Zhang Yaoyang. Eventually, Gu Xiaoqing ran out of money herself, so she began driving a taxi for her father. A large portion of the money she earned had to be used to support Zhang Yaoyang

The background noise on the phone was quite loud, and a pleasant male voice came through: "Are you Gu Xiaoqing?"

Zhang Yaoyang furrowed his brows at that moment. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Alright, prepare yourself, and go on a business trip with me tomorrow." After saying this, he turned and returned to his office

Gu Xiaoqing replied weakly, "Oh, I see." She thought to herself, "At a time like this, how can one still not be able to sleep?"

Ah? Where are you going!" Gu Xiaoqing shouted from behind him

Just when Gu Xiaoqing was worrying every day about the company going bankrupt, one day Zhang Yaoyang returned from outside and walked straight up to her, asking: "Gu Xiaoqing, do you drink?"

I understand. I will arrive in half an hour

People often say that nowadays, bosses treat women like men and men like beasts. Gu Xiaoqing is not sure whether Zhang Yaoyang treats men like beasts, but she feels that he treats her like a man. Over the years, bringing a drunken Zhang Yaoyang home has become a small matter. When the company was just starting out, she sometimes had to accompany Zhang Yaoyang to drink and socialize. It seems that nowadays, doing business requires one to get others drunk at the table before any negotiations can take place. Over the years, she has nearly become a notorious drinker herself.

The first business trip of Gu Xiaoqing and Zhang Yaoyang, two solitary individuals, lacked any hint of romantic color that one might imagine. They traveled by train, and the only thing that provided Gu Xiaoqing with some comfort was that Zhang Yaoyang had purchased sleeper tickets, giving her at least a place to sleep during the 18-hour journey.

Zhang Yaoyang felt somewhat unusual; it was the first time he looked at Gu Xiaoqing directly. Beneath her short hair was a clean face, and among her features, her eyes stood out the most, with dark pupils shining with a determined light. He thought there was something special about this girl, and those things were particularly precious.

Approximately two bottles of beer

Zhang Yaoyang burst into laughter, and after he finished laughing, he looked at Gu Xiaoqing seriously and said, "From now on, follow me, and I guarantee to provide you with drawings"

From that day on, Gu Xiaoqing officially stepped into society, becoming a newcomer in the workforce. In this small company, her business card stated that she was a designer, yet the work she did was that of a general assistant.

Gu Xiaoqing has been at this company for over a month, yet she has not seen a single order come in. Despite this, she observes Xu Hao every day hunched over his computer drawing, only to later discover that he is working on private projects. She finds it quite astonishing that he is so brazenly engaging in side work. However, he explained, "There’s no choice; I need money to make a living. Zhang Yaoyang is my senior, and I’m just doing this as unpaid work for him, without any pay." After hearing this, Gu Xiaoqing was left speechless; she felt that the future of this company was concerning. She does not wish for it to collapse so soon, as this is her first legitimate job.

After calmly hanging up the phone, Gu Xiaoqing sighed and got out of bed to change her clothes. She could no longer remember how many times she had gone to the bar to pick up Zhang Yaoyang.

Three years later in City C, this city seems never to truly quiet down with the passage of time. At dawn, various bars located in different corners of the city are still bustling with activity. Meanwhile, Gu Xiaoqing is sound asleep in her rented apartment in the Xindu Garden in the southern part of the city.

Gu Xiaoqing did not hear Zhang Yaoyang speak, and when she looked up at him, she saw him hesitating to say something. The hopeful look in his eyes finally made her resolute. She said, "I will go. If there is a car tonight, I can return by tomorrow."

On the day of departure, they first gathered at the company and then took Zhang Yaoyang's old jeep to the train station. Due to China's large population, the train station is always crowded, but fortunately, both of them had little luggage, which made it easier to board the train smoothly and find their seats.

Where is he now

It is uncertain whether it was because of this statement, but from that moment on, Gu Xiaoqing truly began to associate with Zhang Yaoyang. This association lasted for three years. During these three years, it can be said that Gu Xiaoqing did not merely observe, but accompanied Zhang Yaoyang throughout his journey.

I estimate that he is also afraid of going too far and not being able to explain himself to his partner. The reason you have been stubbornly holding onto the price these past few days is one aspect, and another is that people often have their preferences; it seems to me that he has taken a liking to your phone.

Gu Xiaoqing hesitated for a moment but still said: "Because your company aligns with my major."

Gu Xiaoqing found the car keys on the shoe cabinet. Thinking about the pile of work she had to do tomorrow, she couldn't help but sigh. With a sense of resignation, she opened the door and walked out.

Gu Xiaoqing lowered her head and said softly: "There is none here, there should be some in Jinan"

Yes, what is your matter

Gu Xiaoqing turned over, and the phone continued to ring stubbornly. She helplessly sat up from the bed, wiped her face with her hand, and answered the call

Here, Gu Xiaoqing is responsible for sending faxes, printing documents, answering phone calls, and running errands to the bank and tax office, as well as handling tax payments and property transfers. Sometimes she feels that she is even less than a mere assistant, as she also has to manage the cleaning of the entire office every morning and evening. When Zhang Yaoyang runs out of cigarettes, she has to go buy them, and she is also in charge of picking up and delivering Zhang Yaoyang's dry cleaning