Chapter 23:
The landline phone in the office abruptly rang, and Vera's husband, Gap, glanced at it.
"Hello?" After a moment, he raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is that so? I understand... Of course, I have an engagement tonight, you know, it's a critical moment now..."
After a brief conversation, Mr. Gap hung up the phone. Lost in thought for a moment, he withdrew his gaze, glanced at his female secretary, and then looked toward the sofa. The secretary quickly understood Gap's consideration for her hard work and walked over in bright red high heels to the edge of the sofa.
The Listoan Group was a large company spanning multiple fields and could be considered an economic pillar industry in the city of Sabin. Naturally, the Listoan Group faced various staggering financial statement issues in each cycle.
As an excellent audit accountant, Gap played a crucial role. He was not a local; he had relocated from elsewhere after taking up this job.
It was the most critical moment in his life. The group company internally intended to reorganize the management, including the finance department.
He had cooperated very well with the company's management and senior executives all along. The Deputy General Manager of the group told him that if he could progress in his career to the next level, he could become a partner in the group.
Even being the lowest-tier partner would represent a significant leap in social status for Gap. As long as this promotion was secured, he could achieve a dramatic transition from the middle class to the upper echelons of society within three to five years.
It was true that he had an engagement tonight. However, this engagement wasn't what Vera and most people might imagine - a semi-public gathering discussing work. Instead, it involved bribery.
Behind any growth, there must be enough nourishment. Gap was well aware of this and understood the direct relationship between himself and this nourishment, these figures. He knew how to fertilize himself correctly.
Approaching the sofa, he fondled his secretary while quietly instructing her about her overtime duties for the night.
Over an hour later, the secretary had retired to the lounge to freshen up for the evening's engagement. After spritzing some perfume on himself, Gap hesitated for a few seconds before picking up the phone.
"It's me. Help me check on my wife and her workplace. I want all the information on that company, and also, find out what they've been up to tonight..."
After hanging up the phone, a kind of expression... difficult to describe, appeared on Gap's face. He half-sat at the edge of the table, gazing at the view outside the window for a while before turning back to the table, diving back into countless numbers and receipts.
Later, Lin Qi and Vera arrived at a supposedly decent restaurant on the outskirts of downtown.
"Decent" meant that this restaurant's style wouldn't be too low, yet it wouldn't require queuing. The two of them, without waiting, were led by the waiter to a vacant table by the side, where they could have a view of the street.
As for Richard and the other two individuals, they were merely hired hands who hadn't even signed employment contracts. They couldn't be considered company employees and naturally wouldn't be part of this new job celebration ceremony.
"Ladies first..." As the waiter handed the menu to Lin Qi, he smiled at Vera. His handsome looks combined with such gentlemanly behavior almost fulfilled every woman's imagination of the opposite sex.
Perhaps due to the lighting or the gradually warming weather, Vera's cheeks felt a bit warm. She glanced deeply at Lin Qi and didn't object, taking the menu to start ordering.
The menu here tended to be straightforward, with no extravagant descriptions. Typically, there would be a colorful photo of a main course, accompanied by various explanations of side dishes. Adjustments could be made by notifying the waiter.
Vera quickly made her choice, opting for a fish fillet, while Lin Qi casually chose a steak and also ordered a bottle of red wine.
As they waited for their meals, there seemed to be a slight awkwardness between them. Vera attempted to avoid engaging in conversation with Lin Qi, who, in turn, looked at her, making her even more uncomfortable, prompting her to say something.
After some thought, she asked, "How did you think of starting this business?" She added, "I never thought currency exchange could be profitable."
Throughout the day, she had registered over thirty thousand in loose change and watched as these coins turned into larger denominations in a short time. She was aware that Lin Qi's business might not entirely conform to the rules, but it wasn't necessarily illegal.
There was no coercion or inducement; anyone could exchange their loose change. Even the company's official registration certificate specifically mentioned "currency exchange business."
The Social Services Bureau recognized this as a legitimate business, and Lin Qi had successfully exploited a legal loophole.
He casually shrugged. "See, we're a service company. As long as there's demand, a market, we will provide services. We don't do anything illegal, evade taxes, or discuss contentious issues. This business is actually quite good."
What he said made sense. Vera wanted to say something to ease the subtle awkwardness but found Lin Qi to be a very special person at this moment.
His intelligent ideas, precise positioning, excellent thinking abilities, and attitude towards certain things made him seem nothing like a young man who had just entered society after high school.
Women, before they turn thirty or before being hurt by several scumbags, often base their selection of men on appearance and physique.
But only after the baptism of time and shedding off superficiality, only after gaining a deeper understanding of the world, would they be enamored by a man's talents and charisma.
Lin Qi was undoubtedly a talented, charismatic, and handsome young man, meeting contemporary women's ideals for the best partner.
In just one day, Lin Qi had earned over two thousand bucks. This was from a company with a registered capital of only a hundred, and on its first official day of operation, it generated profits over twenty times the company's assets. This profit rate was staggering!
What made Vera's heart race even faster was Lin Qi's intense gaze, his humorous conversation, and his slightly aggressive demeanor, all contributing to her palpitations.
"In fact, you have a great figure..." A sentence from Lin Qi caught Vera by surprise. He then looked at the plate just served by the waiter, containing pieces of grilled fish.
Most people would consider steak as the main course, partly due to dietary habits and also because steak was more accessible.
Fish fillet was different, not a traditional choice, especially since Sabin was far from the coastline.
The recent popularity of fish fillet was related to some nutritionists who believed eating fish fillets was healthier, with lower fat content, more suitable for those wanting to maintain or lose weight.
Whether it was accurate or not was the concern of professionals, but Lin Qi simply thought Vera had a good figure, with no visible excess fat.
She touched her cheek, feeling a bit shy. "Really?" She hesitated before falling silent.
The conversation then shifted back to some work-related and societal observations. The atmosphere between the two became increasingly harmonious. At this moment, Lin Qi unexpectedly noticed the News Head in the distance.
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