Chapter 454: Chapter 450: Like Three Autumns Apart
However, it was fortunate for He Qianhui, there were no old friends in this place, just a group of unfamiliar faces.
She wasn’t worried about being overly affectionate with Director Qian, it might lead to gossip, but after all, she was leaving tomorrow.
Even if there were rumors here, she was far away and wouldn’t hear them, nor would they affect her.
"Director Qian, come over here."
A man called out, and Director Qian quickly made his way inside, but he still took care of He Qianhui, who had trouble walking in her high heels.
"Don’t call me Director Qian, we are old classmates after all. When you call me that, it makes our relationship seem so distant," Director Qian said.
"Besides, you’ve grown your business quite a bit too. Shouldn’t I be calling you President Zhou by now!"
The two men looked at each other and laughed heartily, and He Qianhui, observing from the side, could tell that both of them were successful.
As for that deliberate call of Director Qian by President Zhou, it was just an old joke between them.
"Qian, you know me - I’ve always been like this, even when we were at school, that’s how I called you," President Zhou said.
"I really didn’t expect us to meet again. The last time we met, how many years ago was that?"
"Yeah, but I heard you recently had some good fortune come your way, your wife gave you another plump little girl, you’ve got both a son and a daughter now," Director Qian said politely.
"True, we had a daughter, but that little girl is anything but calm now."
"You know my wife is getting on in years, and we didn’t want this child at first."
"But then we found out it was a girl, and no matter what, she wanted to keep it. You have no idea how much we suffered for this child."
"Now she’s in the nursing center, with so many people to take care of her, but the child cries so much at night."
"You know how busy I am with work, and I don’t have time to be there; that’s why I just came out of the nursing center before coming here."
"But the little girl is indeed fair and tender, just like made of dough, it was really tough on my wife."
As an observer, He Qianhui listened to President Zhou’s words and felt that something was off.
If he really was a good man, he should be at the nursing center with his wife right now.
If he wasn’t a good man, yet the words he just said were filled with concern for his wife.
He Qianhui found it difficult to come to a conclusion.
"You’re so fortunate. Not like me. Ever since my business kept growing, my home has been full of endless quarrels," Zhou lamented.
"My wife and child don’t pay me any mind; I try to fulfill my duty as a father, but I can’t; I can only wire living expenses to them each month."
"Recently, my kid told me he wants to go abroad and asked if it’s okay. How could I, as a father, say no?"
"We suffered from not getting an education when we were young. Now that the child wants to study, I can’t hold him back."
"After much work, I finally got his paperwork in order, just waiting to send him off next month."
"I’ve thought it through. No matter what, the original partner is always the best. You may see that I’m constantly with other women, but that’s just for fun," Zhou added.
"The former wife is still my wife by marital vows, and she gave birth to my child. I can’t forget her contributions."
The three of them sat down and opened a few bottles of beer.
He Qianhui drank along, Schemeing a little, she dreaded getting drunk and being devoured completely by Director Qian.
She wouldn’t have the face to face Zhang Hao then.
Not many songs had been sung, but she always heard the two men chatting away.
Their conversation was mostly about the adventures of their youth.
He Qianhui, as one of the only two young people in the room,
Listened to the two old fogeys reminiscing and couldn’t help but reflect.
They were truly brave to have set a goal and not give up in such turbulent times.
Ultimately, their choices did not let them down.
Director Qian had drunk quite a bit and was clearly tipsy.
He Qianhui considerately asked if he was feeling unwell.
Propping himself up on the sofa, Director Qian said, "I rarely get to enjoy myself like today, so I had a couple of extra drinks. Miss He, you don’t have to worry about me; I’ll have my driver take you home later."
"Don’t worry, I may be lecherous at times, but I absolutely wouldn’t coerce anyone."
"Seeing the ring on Miss He’s finger, I have no interest in married women."
Hearing Director Qian say this, Qianhui felt as though she had been punched in the chest.
Perhaps she had misjudged him, assuming malevolence where there was none—maybe he was just talking nonsense because he was drunk.
Qianhui did not let her guard down, and after chatting for a few more sentences and noting the late hour,
President Zhou got up to settle the bill, and with Qianhui’s support, Director Qian staggered into the elevator.
After much effort, she helped him out and into the car, and reminded the driver to take his boss home safely and quickly.
Qianhui wiped the sweat from her forehead. The evening had indeed been full of unexpected events.
When she arrived back at the hotel, it was already one in the morning.
She fell asleep face down on the bed, makeup still on. If not for the alarm, she might have slept until noon.
She lazed in bed for twenty minutes before getting up to shower and remove her makeup.
Heading to the airport in time for her flight, she arrived in a rush but fortunately did not miss her plane.
As the plane took off, her heart finally settled.
When the plane touched down, there was Zhang Hao already waiting for her at the arrival gate.
A few days apart felt like an eternity, and Qianhui quickened her pace.
When only a few meters remained between them, Qianhui simply threw her luggage case aside and hastened towards him.
Zhang Hao turned one eye toward the flying luggage and watched Qianhui with the other.
"You’re just going to leave your luggage?"
Qianhui didn’t say a word and jumped straight into his arms.
With so many people coming and going in the airport, such scenes were not uncommon.
Onlookers might guess they were a long-distance couple or a husband and wife who hadn’t seen each other in a long time.
They were obviously so happy to be reunited that they couldn’t control their emotions.
After hugging for a while, Zhang Hao finally let go of her.
Hastily, they retrieved the luggage case.
"It’s only Wednesday, shouldn’t you be at work? Did you take time off just to pick me up?"
"I swapped shifts with the head surgeon."
"Head surgeon? Aren’t you part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, or did the hospital transfer you back?"
Zhang Hao had no choice but to tell her about what had happened that day. After listening, Qianhui didn’t ask any further.
"Let’s go home, I’ll cook you something nice. You’ve lost weight these past two days."
Qianhui smiled faintly, took Zhang Hao’s arm, and they walked toward the airport hall.
Once in the car, Qianhui quickly took a contract out of her bag.
"Don’t go home just yet. Come with me to the company first, so I can hand this contract to the manager; they’re all anxious for it."
Since it was on the way, Zhang Hao agreed and drove her to her company first, bringing the whole matter to a nice conclusion.
Upon arriving at the company, Qianhui ran excitedly into the manager’s office, leaving Zhang Hao waiting outside.
Over twenty minutes later, Qianhui emerged, and judging by the bright smile on her face, it seemed like there was good news!
