amaotonovel Chapter 1439 Tang Jing's Shock
Chapter 1439 Tang Jing's Shock
Chapter 1439 Tang Jing's Shock
In the summer of 2012, the temperature in Shanghai had already climbed above 30 degrees Celsius. In the evening, the air conditioning in the office of Bianti Consulting was blasting, creating a stark contrast with the heat outside.
Tang Jing had just finished the final presentation for a project. After seeing the client off, she let out a long sigh of relief and stretched her stiff shoulders. She glanced at her watch; it was almost 6:30.
She quickly gathered the documents on the table, put her laptop in her bag, and rushed towards the elevator.
"What's the matter that's so urgent?" A deep male voice came from behind.
Tang Jing turned around and saw He Han standing at the door of his office, holding a cup of coffee and looking at her curiously.
Tang Jing stopped in her tracks: "Oh, Luo Zijun is moving to her new house today and is urging me to go and celebrate her housewarming. She's called me more than a dozen times this afternoon. If I don't go soon, she'll probably set the house on fire."
He Han chuckled: "You attend such a boring party? I remember you hate these kinds of family gatherings the most."
“If it were anyone else, I definitely wouldn’t go,” Tang Jing explained helplessly. “But she’s Luo Zijun, my best friend. We were roommates in college, and she helped me a lot. Now that she’s moving to a new place, I have to go and support her.”
She paused, then added, "If there's nothing particularly urgent today, just send it to my email first, and I'll work overtime tonight to finish it. I promise to give it to you first thing tomorrow morning."
He Han nodded: "Go ahead, be careful on the road. There's nothing urgent today, but there's a project I'd like to discuss with you. We can talk about it tomorrow."
Tang Jing breathed a sigh of relief and was about to turn and leave when she heard He Han suddenly say:
"He's coming back."
"Him?" Tang Jing was stunned for a moment, then realized who He Han was talking about.
Qin Hao's name has become a legend in the company. From a regular consultant to a junior partner, and then to being sent to Hong Kong for a rotation, every step he took was swift and steady. There are many rumors about him in the company. Some say he is exceptionally capable and highly regarded by the big boss; some say he is lucky and caught the wave of the e-commerce boom; others say he has a powerful background and strong family connections.
But Tang Jing knew that Qin Hao's success was no accident. For the past four years, although she wouldn't admit it, she had been secretly keeping an eye on Qin Hao's movements. She knew that Qin Hao was performing equally well in Hong Kong, and she had heard that he had led his team to win several major projects and was highly regarded by the big boss.
"When?" Tang Jing tried to keep her voice calm.
"In the next few days," He Han said casually, taking a sip of coffee. "The big boss is very satisfied with him, and he should be given a new appointment this time he comes back."
Tang Jing pursed her lips, a complex look flashing in her eyes. Three years had passed; she had given it her all, rising from project team leader to project manager, her performance ranking among the top of her cohort of new hires. But compared to Qin Hao, her progress was still too slow.
She raised her chin and gave a confident smile: "That's perfect, it gives me a chance to defeat him head-on."
He Han smiled slightly as he looked at the light shining in Tang Jing's eyes. Over the past three years, he had witnessed Tang Jing's growth firsthand. From her initial awkwardness and inexperience to her current composure and confidence, she had put in far more effort than the average person.
"Go ahead, but don't drink too much," He Han waved his hand.
"it is good."
Tang Jing turned and stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the first floor. As the elevator slowly descended, her thoughts drifted far away.
……
Jinxiu Jiangnan is a mid-to-high-end residential area in Shanghai, with a beautiful environment and complete supporting facilities. Luo Zijun's family recently bought an apartment here, a three-bedroom, two-living room apartment with an area of over 150 square meters, decorated in a warm and comfortable style.
By 7 p.m., quite a few people had gathered at the new home. Luo Zijun's mother, Xue Zhenzhu, her younger sister, Luo Ziqun, and her brother-in-law, Bai Guang, were all there, along with the family's nanny, Yaqin, who was busy in the kitchen.
"What time is it? How much longer are we going to have to wait?" Bai Guang sat up impatiently from the sofa and yawned. "If Tang Jing doesn't come, are we just going to keep waiting? The food's getting cold. Are we not allowed to eat?"
Luo Zijun was setting the table when she heard this and said irritably, "There are so many people here who aren't complaining about being hungry, but you're the only one making a fuss. You're just eating for free and you still have so much to say. If you don't want to wait, you can leave."
"Who are you calling a freeloader?" Bai Guang suddenly got angry and jumped up from the sofa. "Luo Zijun, don't go too far! I canceled my card game today to come and celebrate your housewarming, and this is how you treat me?"
Before Luo Zijun could speak, her mother, Xue Zhenzhu, chimed in, "You should say less, Bai Guang. Today is your sister-in-law's housewarming party, and look at you, you came empty-handed, and as soon as you arrived, you flopped onto the sofa, and you've been eating fruit and snacks non-stop. And you're still saying you're hungry? I think you're just bored!"
Bai Guang was even more furious: "I originally planned to bring a gift, but Ziqun said the two sisters didn't need to be so polite. Besides, can these snacks keep us full? It's already seven o'clock and we still can't eat. I'm a grown man, it's normal for me to have a big appetite, right?"
Luo Ziqun also spoke up for her husband: "That's right, sister, mom, Bai Guang is a man, it's normal for him to have a big appetite. Can you two please stop arguing? Today is a happy day, let's not fight."
Luo Zijun looked at her sister with exasperation: "A man? A man is one who can support his family and earn money. Ziqun, tell me, you've been married to him for so long, how many times has he ever brought money home? Not only does he not bring any money, but he also asks you for money every few days. I really don't know what you saw in him in the first place, that you would marry a man like this?"
"Exactly!" Xue Zhenzhu clutched her chest, looking furious. "I absolutely refused back then, but this brat did it! She secretly stole my household registration book and got married. Honestly, just thinking about it makes my heart ache. What kind of scum did you marry? No money, no job, all he does is play mahjong and drink all day. What did you see in him?"
Just as Bai Guang was about to retort, the doorbell rang.
"It must be Aunt Tang Jing!" Ping'er cheered and rushed out of the room to open the door.
The door opened, and Tang Jing stood outside, holding a beautifully packaged bottle of red wine. Looking at the large family inside, she said somewhat apologetically, "Sorry I'm late. Something came up at the company; I just finished."
"It's not too late, Junsheng hasn't come back yet either." Luo Zijun greeted them with a smile, took the red wine from Tang Jing, and handed it to Yaqin next to her: "Junsheng just called, he'll be here in ten minutes. Yaqin, open the red wine and let it breathe."
"Yes, madam." Yaqin took the red wine and turned to go to the kitchen.
Xue Zhenzhu leaned closer, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the label on the wine bottle: "The red wine Tang Jing brought must be very expensive, right? The label is all in foreign languages, I don't recognize a single one. Is it from France? I've heard that French red wine is the best."
Tang Jing casually said, "Actually, I don't know if it's expensive or not. A client brought it to me from abroad, but I haven't had a chance to drink it until now. Today, Ziju is moving to a new house, so I'm using it to celebrate."
"A gift from a client? It must be expensive." Xue Zhenzhu clicked her tongue in amazement. "Tang Jing, you've really made something of yourself now, even clients are giving you such valuable gifts. Unlike some people..."
As she spoke, she glanced at Bai Guang, seemingly unintentionally.
Bai Guang retorted indignantly, "Hmph, you're so condescending! What's so great about a bottle of cheap wine? One day when I'm rich, I'll bury you all in money! I'll buy a whole case of French and Italian wine, and I'll drink one bottle and throw the rest away!"
Luo Ziqun's lips twitched, and he pulled Bai Guang's arm, whispering, "Shut up! You've lost the money you'd spend on gifts playing mahjong. Aren't you embarrassed enough? Can't you just shut up?"
Bai Guang was even more annoyed: "Whose side are you on? I'm your husband, and instead of taking my side, you're taking theirs?"
"But they're still my mother and my sister!" Luo Ziqun glared at her husband. "You need to be more ambitious. Do you think I have to put up with their disdain for you? You don't work hard yourself, and you blame others for looking down on you?"
Just as the two were about to start arguing again, the door was pushed open once more. Chen Junsheng walked in, but the person following him stunned both Tang Jing and Luo Zijun.
He was a tall man, wearing a well-fitting dark gray suit, with a calm smile on his face.
"Old Qin? When did you get back?" Luo Zijun asked in surprise, her eyes wide open.
Chen Junsheng explained, "Old Qin just flew back from Hong Kong today. I happened to be at the airport picking up a client when I ran into him. I thought today was a good day for you to move into your new house, so I brought him along. It's more fun with more people."
"When did you two get so close?" Luo Zijun asked her husband suspiciously.
Chen Junsheng chuckled sheepishly, "To be honest, I owe my promotion last time to Lao Qin. Last year, our company had a particularly difficult client, and I tried several times without success. Later, I consulted Lao Qin, and he gave me a few ideas. I tried them out, and hey, it actually worked! After that client signed the contract, my performance improved significantly. If it weren't for that, I really wouldn't have gotten the director position."
Qin Hao smiled at Tang Jing, his gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds: "What? You don't welcome me back?"
Tang Jing pursed her lips, met Qin Hao's gaze, and tried to make her voice sound calm and natural: "You talk as if I'm afraid of you. It's good that you're back, it gives me the opportunity to defeat you head-on. I haven't been idle at the company for the past three years, don't think you can beat me as easily as before."
A hint of ambiguity flashed in Luo Zijun's eyes, but she didn't say anything in front of so many people. Instead, she invited everyone to take their seats: "Alright, everyone's here. Let's eat. Yaqin, you can serve the dishes now."
……
After everyone took their seats, a sumptuous feast was laid out in Luo Zijun's new dining room. Braised pork, steamed fish, braised prawns, steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli, baby bok choy in broth... every dish was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, showing that Luo Zijun and Yaqin had put in a lot of effort.
As the hostess, Luo Zijun raised her glass first: "Today's toast is first and foremost a welcome back to Lao Qin in Shanghai. By the way, you probably won't be leaving again, right?"
Qin Hao smiled and raised his glass: "I'm not leaving. I did a year-long rotation in Hong Kong, and my performance was pretty good. The big boss was quite satisfied with me, and I was promoted to senior partner. The project revenue sharing was also quite considerable. I'm not planning to change jobs for now; I'll stay in Shanghai from now on."
"Oh, really? That's great!" Luo Zijun's eyes lit up immediately, and she looked at Tang Jing meaningfully.
As a longtime best friend, Tang Jing was well aware of Luo Zijun's thoughts. She glared at Luo Zijun fiercely, then pretended not to hear and continued drinking, trying to hide her inner turmoil.
"Oh my, a senior partner?" Xue Zhenzhu couldn't help but ask curiously, "The salary must be quite high, right? Higher than Tang Jing's?"
As an industry insider, Chen Junsheng proactively explained, "Mom, Tang Jing is currently a project manager. The next step is to become a junior partner. A senior partner is one level higher than a junior partner. At a top consulting firm like Bianti, promotions are very rigorous, and each promotion is not easy."
"So, his salary is two levels higher than Tang Jing's?" Xue Zhenzhu covered her mouth, her eyes wide. "My God, that must be several million a year!"
Not only her, but Luo Zijun was also shocked. She already thought Chen Junsheng's annual salary was less than a million after being promoted to director, and she spent money with great confidence. But Qin Hao's salary was several times that of her husband, which was completely beyond her imagination.
Before they could even calm down, Chen Junsheng added, "However, in an industry like Bianti, a partner's income is comprised mainly of their salary; the year-end bonus is the real part. Old Qin is now a senior partner, so his bonus percentage must be very high. I estimate that his annual bonus might be several times more than his salary."
Upon hearing this, Luo Ziqun exclaimed in shock: "My God! That's tens of millions a year! So much money, you couldn't possibly spend it all in a lifetime! My goodness, tens of millions! I can't even imagine it!"
Bai Guang, already annoyed at being ignored, was drinking alone. Hearing his wife's smug attitude only fueled his anger. He glared at Luo Ziqun and said, "Don't act like you've never seen anything like it! It's just a few tens of millions, what's the big deal? If I, Bai Guang, ever become rich, hundreds of millions will be a piece of cake! Then I'll show you what real wealth is!"
Xue Zhenzhu sneered, "Several hundred million? I could believe you'd spend hundreds of millions, but earn hundreds of millions? Don't even mention hundreds of millions, have you ever earned 100,000 yuan in your entire life? You're always idle, but you're a master at losing money at mahjong. Ziqun is really unlucky to have followed you!"
Seeing Xue Zhenzhu berate him in front of so many outsiders, Bai Guang immediately lost his temper. He stood up abruptly, pointed at Xue Zhenzhu, and roared, "What did you say? Say it again if you dare! Let me tell you, don't think I'm afraid of you just because you're an elder! If you piss me off..."
"Say it if you want, do you think I'm afraid of you!" Xue Zhenzhu stood up, hands on her hips. "You have the nerve to do it, so why should I be embarrassed to say it? Ask around, how many people are in their late twenties or almost thirty, yet they're always loafing around and not doing anything productive, and still being supported by their wives? If I were you, I'd rather jump into the Huangpu River and drown myself! To save myself from making a fool of myself!"
"You should have jumped into the Huangpu River a long time ago! You old geezer, all you do is nag and nag, isn't it annoying?" Bai Guang cursed without thinking.
As the argument between the two intensified, the atmosphere at the table instantly turned icy. Chen Junsheng glanced awkwardly at Qin Hao and Tang Jing, wanting to mediate but unsure how to begin.
Luo Zijun's face turned ashen, and she slammed her hand on the table: "Enough! Aren't you embarrassed enough already? If you want to argue, go elsewhere, not in my house! Today is my moving day, do you have to make such a scene?"
Xue Zhenzhu glanced at Qin Hao and Tang Jing, then at her daughter's livid face. She could only glare at Bai Guang before reluctantly sitting down. "Fine, today is my daughter's housewarming day. I won't argue with you. Come back and challenge me when you've made some money!"
"Hmph!" Bai Guang sat down after being comforted by Luo Ziqun, but his face was still ugly. He picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.
Chen Junsheng said to Qin Hao in an awkward and helpless tone, "I'm sorry, I made you laugh..."
Qin Hao smiled calmly and raised his glass: "It's normal for families to bicker. Every family has its disagreements. Today is your housewarming day, so let's not talk about these unpleasant things. Come, let me toast you and congratulate you on moving to your new home."
"Thanks." Chen Junsheng quickly raised his glass.
After the two clinked glasses, Qin Hao turned to Luo Zijun and said, "Zijun, congratulations to you too. The new house is beautiful and decorated very warmly."
"Thank you." Luo Zijun forced a smile, her mood clearly affected.
What should have been a sumptuous and enjoyable dinner ended rather abruptly. No one had much of an appetite; they ate a little something and then prepared to leave.
……
After the banquet, Chen Junsheng was about to see Qin Hao downstairs when Luo Zijun stopped him.
"Junsheng, don't go down there." Luo Zijun said, "Bai Guang is drunk again and acting crazy. You help Ziqun take him home, I can't handle him by myself."
As she spoke, she winked at Qin Hao, her tone slightly mischievous: "Tang Jing has been drinking, so I'll trouble you to take her home. It's not safe for her to go home alone so late."
"I'm fine, I didn't drink much..." Before Tang Jing could finish speaking, Qin Hao readily agreed:
"Don't worry, it will be delivered safely."
Tang Jing glared at Qin Hao, then at Luo Zijun, but both pretended not to notice. Luo Zijun even pushed her towards the door, saying, "Alright, alright, let's go. It'll be even more unsafe if we stay any longer. Send me a message when you get home."
Left with no other choice, Tang Jing had to bite the bullet and leave Luo Zijun's house with Qin Hao.
Inside the elevator, the two stood side by side, neither speaking. The elevator slowly descended, a subtle silence filling the small space.
Tang Jing sensed the atmosphere was a bit heavy, so she took the initiative to start a conversation: "You just got off the plane, why didn't I see any luggage? Did you go straight home to put it away before coming here?"
The words had barely left her mouth when she wanted to slap herself. What a stupid question!
Sure enough, Qin Hao looked at her with a half-smile: "Big sister, five-star hotels offer airport pick-up services, and your luggage is delivered directly to the hotel. Are you just making small talk? Is it really necessary? I've only been in Hong Kong for a year, and you're already acting so distant?"
Tang Jing blushed and could only pretend to be drunk: "Who's making conversation for no reason? Stop being so conceited. I just had a little to drink and my head isn't quite clear yet. What's wrong?"
Qin Hao smiled and didn't expose her: "Really? When did your alcohol tolerance become so low?"
She turned her face away, trying to change the subject: "By the way, you're back as a senior partner this time, so isn't that higher than He Han's level?"
Qin Hao nodded: "One level above He Han. The mainland has developed very rapidly in recent years, especially in e-commerce, which has seen explosive growth. The big boss has seen the potential of the mainland market and is preparing to fully develop it. So this time I came back not just as a senior partner."
"What do you mean?" Tang Jing's heart skipped a beat.
"From now on, I'll be in charge of the mainland branch." Qin Hao's tone was calm, but the weight of his words made Tang Jing gasp.
"So... you're going to be the new branch manager replacing Fleck tomorrow?" Tang Jing's voice was filled with disbelief.
Fleck, a Frenchman, was the former general manager of Bianti's mainland branch. Last month, rumors circulated within the company that Fleck would be transferred back to the European headquarters, and a new general manager would soon take office. Everyone speculated it would be some foreign executive, or someone parachuted in from the Asia-Pacific region. No one expected it to be Qin Hao!
"Is there a problem?" Qin Hao raised an eyebrow.
Tang Jing composed herself, trying to make her voice sound calm: "But you were only a junior partner before you went to Hong Kong! According to the company's promotion system, it takes at least three years to go from junior partner to senior partner, and at least another three years to go from senior partner to branch manager. You've only been here for a year..."
"You'll have to ask the big boss about that."
Tang Jing was deeply disturbed. She knew that Bianti was a multinational corporation, ranking among the top three in the consulting industry. Generally, the top executives of such multinationals were foreigners; the previous general manager of the mainland branch was a Frenchman named Fleck. If Qin Hao wasn't exaggerating, then he was the highest-ranking Chinese person at Bianti besides the Asia-Pacific president.
How did he manage to do it in just one year? Tang Jing couldn't understand. She had worked tirelessly for three years, only managing to rise from project team leader to project manager. Qin Hao, on the other hand, seemed to have taken off like a rocket, soaring to heights she could only dream of.
This disparity left her feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.
The taxi stopped at the entrance of Tang Jing's residential complex. Qin Hao paid the fare, and the two got out of the car.
"Do you need me to take you upstairs?" Qin Hao asked.
Tang Jing was still in shock. She nodded subconsciously, then quickly shook her head: "No need, I can manage by myself. You must be tired after getting off the plane. Go back to the hotel and rest early."
Qin Hao couldn't help but chuckle at her flustered appearance. He took a step closer, lowered his voice, and said in a teasing tone, "Aren't you going to invite me up for a coffee?"
Tang Jing snapped out of her daze, blushed, and instinctively took a step back: "Excuse me, I don't have any coffee at home."
"Mineral water is fine too." Qin Hao continued to approach.
"Do you want tap water?" Tang Jing glared at him.
Qin Hao shrugged, feigning disappointment, and sighed, "Still so boring. Fine, I'm leaving then. Get some rest, see you at the company tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow." Tang Jing breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a vague sense of loss.
Watching Qin Hao get into another taxi and disappear into the night, Tang Jing turned and walked into the residential area.
I had just gotten home when my phone rang. It was Luo Zijun calling.
"Hey, Tang Jing, are you home yet?" Luo Zijun's voice was filled with gossipy excitement.
"Just arrived. What's up?"
"How is it? Is Lao Qin at your house?" Luo Zijun asked directly.
Tang Jing rolled her eyes: "At the hotel. I'm hanging up now, I'm exhausted."
"Huh? Is he really that clueless?" Luo Zijun's tone was full of disappointment. "I created such a good opportunity for him, how come he can't seize it? It's so late at night, I was taking you home, what a great opportunity to be alone, why did you go back to the hotel?"
Tang Jing said irritably, "He wanted to come up, but I stopped him."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Luo Zijun's wailing came through: "Tang Jing, Tang Jing, what can I say to you? Old Qin is now a senior partner, a branch manager, with an annual salary of tens of millions! So many women are eyeing a rich husband like him! And you, you don't even want the chance that comes your way!"
"What kind of rich husband? Do you think I'm like you? I'm not talking to you anymore, I have to be busy early tomorrow morning, bye."
After hanging up the phone, Tang Jing was still unable to calm down. She couldn't even imagine what kind of uproar Qin Hao would cause in the company after he appeared tomorrow.