Chapter 44: The Drinking Party (3)

Return: My Hell and Heaven
Chapter 44: The Drinking Party (3)

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After a brief moment of distraction, Song Shu quickly adjusted back to her normal state.

She tucked her loose hair behind her ear and nodded, “I’ve heard about it. The amount of money involved in that case and the wide range of victims make it one of the major financial cases of the past decade by any measure.”

“A major financial case, huh?” Chu Xiangbin scoffed.

Song Shu was somewhat surprised. “It seems Leader Chu doesn’t agree?”

“With such a huge sum of money involved, several major investors nearly severed their ties with the Qin family, and the Qin family’s reputation took a significant hit—just one case causing such an impact. How could I not agree that it’s a major financial case?”

“Then what is Leader Chu’s…”

“Since you’re a top student in law and have researched domestic cases extensively, you must already know the outcome of that case.”

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Chu Xiangbin’s anger grew as he spoke, but Song Shu’s doubts only deepened.

If Lu Yunkai was indeed the person who framed Bai Song back then, why would his confidants express such strong sentiments? Was it just a façade? But there were no such indications within the company’s rumors.

Furthermore, if Lu Yunkai wasn’t the one, why was Chu Xiangbin so sensitive about this case and seemed to know some inside information?

After some thought, Song Shu decided to take a probing step. She looked at Chu Xiangbin with a curious expression and asked, “Does Leader Chu mean that there are other hidden aspects to this case?”

“…I don’t know.” Chu Xiangbin’s smile faded. “No one knows, and no one dares to know.”

Song Shu’s pupils contracted slightly.

After a moment, she smiled lightly, “Is there really something Leader Chu is afraid of?”

Chu Xiangbin shot her a cold glance. “Stop with the provocations. I’ve said more than I should today—don’t you find it strange why Vio is diverging from industry norms? The Bai Song case is the reason.”

Song Shu was taken aback.

Chu Xiangbin turned away. “I don’t know if President Qin is scared, but since then, Bai Song has become a name no one in the company dares to mention—what happened then has become taboo.”

“…”

“And since then, all projects related to that case, such as financing, mergers and acquisitions, and fund management, have been subjected to unprecedented suppression from President Qin—just as General Manager Lu said, the Qin family would rather abandon their keen financial intuition and judgment, cutting off the possibility of recreating past successes, and force Vio to deviate step by step from investment banking norms, shifting focus to venture capital…”

After Chu Xiangbin finished speaking, he glanced to the side and was momentarily stunned.

“…Why do you have that expression?”

Song Shu suddenly snapped back to reality and looked up with a smile. “Leader Chu, I don’t have any particular expression.”

Chu Xiangbin frowned. “You clearly had a—”

“?”

“—never mind.”

Chu Xiangbin awkwardly turned his face away. As he gazed at the swiftly passing scenery outside the car window, he couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

Was it an illusion?

He clearly felt that he had seen it. Just a moment ago, when she turned her head, behind those black-framed glasses that obscured half her face, he had seen a fleeting sadness in her brown eyes.

It was like a cloud gathering rain but holding back from showing it.

—For a moment, Chu Xiangbin thought he might understand why Qin Lou was interested in this newcomer.

But if Qin Lou were here, he’d probably say: “You don’t understand a damn thing.”

Crazy people like little clam shells, never just for one specific reason.

~

The company’s car eventually dropped Song Shu and Chu Xiangbin off in front of a high-end restaurant in downtown Q City.

In the restaurant’s entrance, the corporate host greeted them with a warm smile, looking like they had been waiting for a while.

Before getting out of the car, Chu Xiangbin seemed to recall something and turned to Song Shu. “How’s your tolerance for alcohol?”

Song Shu paused and, unusually, answered honestly. “I’ve never drunk before.”

“…”

Chu Xiangbin seemed taken aback, looking her up and down in disbelief. Song Shu could almost read from his expression, “How is it possible that someone like you still exists in the company?”

Chu Xiangbin did not explicitly express this sentiment but frowned instead. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Leader Chu, we’re here for due diligence, and the intermediary agency is also present. It shouldn’t…”

“Do you think the drinking culture in domestic business is a joke?”

Song Shu fell silent.

Chu Xiangbin gave her a cold glance. “Since you haven’t drunk before, consider this your first time. Anyway, no matter which team you join in the company in the future, it will be up to you to handle these situations.”

Song Shu sighed. “Does Vio have a tradition of making female employees drink?”

“What, do you feel like you’re facing workplace gender discrimination? Are you planning to lecture me on anti-discrimination regulations in company law next?”

“…”

Song Shu chose not to engage with the fiery Tyrannosaurus Rex. She offered a gentle smile. “Of course not, I’ll do my best.”

Chu Xiangbin gave her a sidelong glance and got out of the car.

The two parties inevitably went through a lengthy and largely insincere exchange of pleasantries, pretending to be old friends despite having never met.

Watching the corporate host who was almost pulling Chu Xiangbin into a close relationship, Song Shu sighed inwardly.

Initially, Song Shu had thought that the heads of emerging tech companies like AI startups would be younger and more technical, and therefore, more straightforward. It seemed she was too naïve—those who would bring investors to drinking parties to play with capital are still the seasoned veterans in these companies.

Her assumption proved accurate.

After the introduction of the company’s history and shareholder situation, it was followed by a round of drinks; after understanding the major equity changes and significant restructuring, another round of drinks; and after reviewing the company’s organizational structure and regulations, yet another round of drinks…

All discussions happened over drinks.

Eventually, when a sensitive issue regarding the establishment of the company’s three meetings came up, the host seemed unprepared and made an excuse to go to the restroom.

With her face flushed from the alcohol, Song Shu noticed that only she and Chu Xiangbin remained at the table and, fighting off the dizziness, asked quietly, “Leader Chu, how much longer will this go on?”

Chu Xiangbin glanced at her sideways. “Can’t you handle it anymore?”

“…”

Song Shu, normally so carefree, felt a strong urge to grab a bottle and smash it over someone’s head due to the alcohol. Fortunately, her rationality still prevailed, and she managed to hold back, saying half-jokingly and half-wearily, “So this is how it is even in tech companies.”

“Don’t mistake them for fresh graduates. Real tech people wouldn’t be at such a drinking table,” Chu Xiangbin said, casting a rare hint of guilt in his eyes before looking away. “Besides, these people have usually been through seed and angel investment rounds. The representatives sent out are generally quite slick. I’ll handle it today, but if you encounter this kind of situation in the future and end up getting led astray by the details after too much drinking, don’t blame me for not teaching you.”

“…”

Song Shu noted Chu Xiangbin’s intentional advice from the beginning, and it struck her deeply. Despite his fiery temper and tendency to blow up at any moment, he didn’t seem to hold back in mentoring.

At least there was a bit of humanity left…

Before she could think further, the corporate host who had gone out for a “flower-picking” break returned with a beaming smile.

Seeing that face made Song Shu’s stomach twist a bit.

Chu Xiangbin and the host continued to wrangle over the issue of the company’s three meetings for a while. After numerous rounds of drinks, the due diligence finally moved to the last segment, which was about industry competitors.

“There are many branches in the field of artificial intelligence, but if we’re talking about the leading company, it should be Xiaokai Technology.” The host paused and turned to Chu Xiangbin. “Mr. Chu, I remember that the founder of Xiaokai Technology was originally from the Qin family, right?”

The clinking of glasses at the table stopped.

Song Shu lowered her eyes, her expression unchanged.

Deng Xiaokai, the previous general manager of the Qin family before Bai Song. Later, when the Qin family faced difficulties, he was among the first to transfer his shares and leave to start his own business.

But in the bustling capital market, such actions were not unusual, and it was understandable, especially since he might have harbored some dissatisfaction with Qin Liang after being demoted.

Song Shu knew that Chu Xiangbin would have heard of him.

His expression remained unchanged. “The name sounds familiar; he was indeed a former employee of the Qin family. However, since the Qin family no longer exists and Vio is now under President Qin Lou’s domain, digging up old accounts is pointless.”

“Mr. Chu is right.”

“Shall we continue discussing the rest of the industry competitors?”

“Sure…”

~

11 PM, outside the restaurant.

Chu Xiangbin impatiently glanced at his watch, then put it down and couldn’t help asking, “Has the logistics team not arrived yet?”

The driver smiled wryly. “Minister Chu, at this time, it’s already impressive that the HR department managed to get someone here.”

“…”

“If you really don’t want to wait, we can just send Miss Qin back to her place first.”

Chu Xiangbin sneered. “A lone man and a woman in the dead of night, are you trying to get me fired by President Qin tomorrow?”

The driver chuckled, “That’s not going to happen.”

“Not going to happen?”

Chu Xiangbin recalled the near-snarl of coldness in President Qin Lou’s gaze towards him the night before at the conference room door.

He scoffed and averted his eyes.

“General Manager Lu was right. Our President Qin may be young, but she’s much more intimidating than the old-timers.”

The driver dared not respond to this remark.

A couple of minutes later, the driver saw the headlights of an approaching car and brightened up.

“Minister Chu, the HR department’s car has arrived.”

Chu Xiangbin hesitated for a moment. “You go and greet them. I’ll wake up the ‘drunkard’.”

“Alright.”

The driver got out of the car, and Chu Xiangbin opened the rear door. He bent slightly, bracing himself on the door, and frowned at the woman inside who was sleeping soundly under a suit jacket, aided by the effects of alcohol.

“Qin Qing.”

“…”

“Qin Qing?”

“…”

“Qin Qing!”

“…”

At the last exasperated shout, the woman finally stirred and began to wake up.

Just as Chu Xiangbin was about to continue his efforts to rouse her, a sarcastic female voice came from beside him. “Are you trying to make sure everyone in the parking lot hears you?”

“…” Chu Xiangbin furrowed his brow and looked back.
Two seconds later, he turned to the driver beside him.
“Why did you call the HR department’s minister instead of a female logistics person?”

The driver awkwardly explained, “I didn’t know it was Director Luan who came.”

“No one else is here.” Luan Qiaoqing rolled her eyes.
“Do you really think the HR department staff are just idle? We’re on standby 24/7?”

“You know who’s lying inside, right?”

“Of course. Is there anyone in the company who doesn’t know her?”

Luan Qiaoqing and Chu Xiangbin had had their fair share of clashes, and with no one else around in the company, they felt no need to hold back.

Chu Xiangbin mocked, “Well, you two are, after all, both clinging to the same bigwig.”

Luan Qiaoqing immediately showed her distaste. “I’m not the same as her.”

“Hmm, purely in terms of work capability, she indeed doesn’t seem like a mere insider—on this point, you two are indeed different.”

“……” Luan Qiaoqing nearly ground her teeth in frustration. “What are you calling people here for, to chat with you?”

Chu Xiangbin asked uncertainly, “Can you take her?”

“Why couldn’t I?”

“…”

Chu Xiangbin glanced at the interior of the car.

Everyone in the company knew about the intense discord between the legal department’s newcomer, Qin Qing, and the HR department’s minister, Luan Qiaoqing. He had heard many rumors about it.
Chu Xiangbin turned back with concern. “You’re not planning to dump her in some desolate area, are you?”

Luan Qiaoqing: “……”

Luan Qiaoqing ground her teeth. “Or maybe you want to do it yourself?”

Chu Xiangbin weighed his options for three seconds and then opened the car door wide.

“Please.”

“……”

Luan Qiaoqing frowned and stepped forward.

She bent down, helped the half-awake woman out of the car, and dragged her out with visible distaste.

As she dragged her, she harshly addressed Chu Xiangbin, “No matter how she got here, making female colleagues in your team drink like this and having no repercussions yourself—Leader Chu, I’ve seen your limits.”

Chu Xiangbin’s face darkened.

“This has nothing to do with me. Her tolerance is terrible. I drank even more than she did, and I’ve never seen such an incompetent subordinate.”

“Believe it if you want.”

“…… Believe it or not!”

“Just don’t believe it.”

Chu Xiangbin nearly lost his temper, waving his hand dismissively. “Go, go, go, hurry up!”

“……”

With the help of Chu Xiangbin’s driver, Luan Qiaoqing finally managed to get the woman into the backseat of her own car.

After confirming that the other party had left, Luan Qiaoqing furrowed her brows and examined the woman lying sideways in the car.

To avoid any injury from the drunken state, the woman’s black-framed glasses had been removed and put away. Her long hair fell in front of her, revealing a delicate, beautiful face.

She wore almost no makeup, yet her brows, eyes, nose, and lips were flawless.

If her older sister were still alive and had grown to this age, she would likely look much like this.

Since she had never seen her in her twenties, the resemblance only grew stronger… no wonder Qin Lou was so taken with her.

Luan Qiaoqing sighed and bent down to cover the woman with a thin blanket from the back of the car.

The movement was a bit abrupt, causing the half-conscious woman to open her hazy eyes.

Luan Qiaoqing paused, then sternly said, “I’m only doing this because you look like my sister—”

“Qiaoqing…”

“——!”

Luan Qiaoqing’s hand froze in mid-air.

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