Chapter 59 Riding the Current to Push the Boat

Part 1

Bian Xiaoqi raised her wine glass and said with a smile, "Changxue, you are efficient, meticulous, and dedicated. You are my most capable assistant, and I believe you will go far in your career. The first phase of the Qinghe Homeland residential project will be completely sold out during the National Day holiday. Next up is ensuring the delivery of completed apartments, followed by the commencement and sales of phases two and three. Even more important positions await you. I invited you out alone today for two reasons: first, to fulfill a request from our classmate Lin Haidong, and second, to hear your thoughts on the company's current situation."

"Sister Xiaoqi, judging from the recent sales performance and customer feedback, ensuring the delivery of completed apartments has become our most urgent task. The problems stemming from the extensive and crude management style at Zhengyang Real Estate manifest in various ways, such as cronyism, redundancy, unclear systems, and chaotic workflows. All of these introduce uncertainties into property delivery. Only by strictly controlling the engineering procurement and engineering management departments can we guarantee the on-time delivery of the properties," Meng Changxue said thoughtfully.

"Changxue's insight is sharp, and she has accurately identified these issues. I already have a goal for my next steps. Come, here is to great minds thinking alike, and to a future that will surely be brighter. Cheers!" Bian Xiaoqi said, clinking glasses with the three of them.

"Hearing Director Bian Xiaoqi hold Changxue in such high regard makes me very happy and pleased," Lin Haidong said, draining his glass in one gulp.

"Sister Xiaoqi, you are both strict and warm, both open-minded and fiercely fair. It is truly wonderful to have a boss like you!" Meng Changxue said.

"Changxue, I hope we can become confidantes who support each other," Bian Xiaoqi smiled.

"Sister Xiaoqi, I believe we already are, and we certainly will be," Meng Changxue replied with a smile.

"Haven't these two career women already become friends? Otherwise, how could they be having dinner together in this humble abode? Classmate Haidong, what do you think?" Qin Ke joked.

"Classmate Qin Ke, you are entirely right. Where else could the two of us ever hope to find better girlfriends than them?" Lin Haidong said with a double entendre.

"Lin Haidong, let's talk about things at your company—especially the various motions triggered by Qin Ke's recent business trip to Xizhou. The issues at the Southwest Branch might end up affecting both of your jobs," Bian Xiaoqi shifted the topic.

"Old Liu, the moment the two of you left the Beijing headquarters, everyone downstairs started whispering that there would be a massive earthquake at the Southwest Branch. Consequently, people across various departments have been scrambling, all trying to secure a good position for themselves. Yet yesterday, the inspection team you sent back concluded with 'competent leadership and no substantial evidence of wrongdoing,' leaving those schemers deeply disappointed," Lin Haidong said.

"What is your own view on this matter?" Meng Changxue, sensing that major troubles were brewing within Company C, asked before Bian Xiaoqi could speak again.

"Looking at the composition of the inspection team, I knew the ending would be a happy consensus where everyone emerges unscathed," Lin Haidong said with a smile.

"How so?" Bian Xiaoqi asked.

"Tang Anhua, the headquarters' chief financial officer, and the chief financial officer of the Southwest Branch are alumni from the same year. Sales Director Xu Weixin and Xu Yunlong, the general manager of the Southwest Branch, are fellow townsmen. The only exception is Chief Technology Officer Qi Guosheng, who has no ties to any of them. With such an intricate web of relationships, expecting them to uncover real problems is like believing in ghosts."

"What about Ling Yunkun and Zhan Dechun?" Qin Ke asked.

"Ling Yunkun has always clung to Tang Anhua's coattails. Zhan Dechun is a relative of Xu Weixin. They used their connections to secure the trip to Xizhou, and naturally, they would audit strictly according to Tang Anhua and Xu Weixin's instructions. The inspection team made a grand entrance and seemed high-profile, but in reality, they were just putting on a show for outsiders."

"How do people in your company view Qin Ke?" Bian Xiaoqi continued to ask.

"Although Qin Ke hasn't been with Company C for long, he received a promotion and a pay raise right upon joining, which made his name ring like thunder throughout the company. In an enterprise where sales and profit are king, technology is certainly important, but not the most important. To shut people up, they couldn't assign all six members based on nepotism; thus, Classmate Qin Ke—who is low in seniority, top-tier in technical skill, grounded, and hardworking—was recommended by Zheng Yutong and favored by Qi Guosheng."

"Haidong, has Company C's sales department ever used yin-yang contracts?" Qin Ke asked.

"Yin-yang contracts are common in the industry. As long as things aren't too outrageous and a reasonable profit is guaranteed, senior management usually turns a blind eye." Lin Haidong replied.

"Does your company maintain a set of dual accounting books?" Bian Xiaoqi asked again.

"I am not familiar with financial matters," Lin Haidong answered honestly.

"Haidong, you've been at Company C for a long time. Which member of the senior management do you think is most trustworthy?" Qin Ke asked.

"Director Qi Guosheng is relatively upright and should be trustworthy. The boss, Hans, is the CEO dispatched to Beijing by the overseas headquarters. He also has a technical background and gets along quite well with Qi Guosheng. Hans relies on local sales to hit revenue targets and achieve the profit metrics set by the overseas headquarters, so he generally doesn't interfere with sales operations or personnel assignments within the company," Lin Haidong said.

"Then do you think there is actually a problem with your Southwest Branch?" Meng Changxue asked.

"When a company's sales profit drops to almost zero over a period of more than six months, there is definitely a problem—and a major one at that. That's why Hans dispatched an inspection team to audit the branch. It's just a pity they returned empty-handed," Lin Haidong said.

"Could Hans possibly accept the inspection team's investigation conclusions? How will he answer to the overseas headquarters?" Bian Xiaoqi asked.

"Although Hans is a foreigner, he is an old China hand. He is shrewd, excels at biding his time, and will certainly not accept such an investigative report. As for what his next move will be, I couldn't say," Lin Haidong replied.

"Which faction do you consider yourself to be in? No, what I mean is, how are you perceived by others, or by senior management?" Bian Xiaoqi pressed on.

"I am in a faction of my own. You can't rely on anyone; you can only rely on your own capability. Therefore, I don't rely on anyone—I earn my living through my ability," Lin Haidong said.

Part 2

After listening to Lin Haidong, Bian Xiaoqi proposed another toast, then suddenly asked, "What if the investigation results were to be overturned?"

"They are birds of a feather and deeply collusive, but they aren't fools; they won't leave behind a smoking gun. Having the investigation results reversed is practically impossible," Lin Haidong shook his head.

"Old Four, let's wait and see," Qin Ke said with absolute conviction.

***

Lin Haidong looked skeptically at Qin Ke, then glanced at a clueless Meng Changxue, before finally looking at Bian Xiaoqi, who wore a knowing smile. A sudden realization hit him, and he exclaimed, "Old Liu, could you have actually found evidence of their corruption and bribery?"

Bian Xiaoqi glanced at Qin Ke. Qin Ke stood up, retrieved a stack of handwritten documents from his bag, and handed them to Lin Haidong.

After carefully reading through them, Lin Haidong said, "Old Liu, this is a fuse. Once ignited, it will turn the Southwest Branch upside down. You should have reported this directly to Qi Guosheng at the time and overturned the investigation conclusions."

"Whom could I trust? Based on your introduction just now, the only person in Company C I can trust is you. When Xiaoqi suggested calling you out for dinner today, it was precisely to discuss what our next move should be," Qin Ke said.

"Didn't they monitor you? Didn't they realize you were investigating in secret? Did the honey trap really fail?" Lin Haidong laughed.

"What honey trap? You seem to know everything. Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Meng Changxue chided playfully.

"The honey trap refers to that Ling Yunkun. She is flirtatious and promiscuous, stopping at nothing to climb into the good graces of senior management. Everyone in Company C knows this. Old Liu, you're so smart—they must have been guarding against you. It looks like the foolproof honey trap failed, and Classmate Qin Ke stood the test. Congratulations!" Lin Haidong laughed heartily.

Hearing Lin Haidong say this, Qin Ke suddenly understood, "No wonder Ling Yunkun completely reversed her flattering attitude from previous days and stopped cozying up to me today. She figured the dust had settled and there was no need to keep up the act."

"If we hand these materials directly over to Qi Guosheng, Qin Ke might get dragged right into the vortex, so we can't act rashly. We need a foolproof strategy—one that exposes the problems while allowing him to withdraw safely," Bian Xiaoqi deliberated.

"I have a fairly good personal relationship with Qi Guosheng, and there are no conflicts of interest between us. I'll go probe his stance first. I'll ask him to conceal upwards that these materials were investigated firsthand by Qin Ke, framing it instead as a whistleblower letter received from Xizhou. Once the truth comes to light, Old Liu won't have anything to fear," Lin Haidong considered.

"Will Qi Guosheng weigh various relationships and sweep these materials under the rug? I'm worried that submitting these might just mean they sink to the bottom of the sea without a trace," Qin Ke worried aloud.

Bian Xiaoqi said, "A person must still retain some courage and a sense of justice. Once an arrow leaves the bow, there's no turning back. Since we've dared to take this step, we can't be overly timid. Once the fuse is lit, those snakes and rats can no longer scurry around together. If we can't even uphold basic justice, then the two of you have no business continuing to work at Company C. Just like at the Zhengyang Group—if Changxue and I had no way out, the company wouldn't last long either."

Qin Ke, Lin Haidong, and Meng Changxue were galvanized by Bian Xiaoqi's calm and confidence.

Meng Changxue said, "Sister Xiaoqi, I support you. Lin Haidong, if you get cold feet or act rashly and mess this up, then you and I are through."

Lin Haidong said solemnly, "I will proceed with caution."

Qin Ke smiled, "Old Four, don't put too much pressure on yourself either. The worst-case scenario is just the two of us laughing out loud into the open world together."

"On the contrary, I am not pessimistic about this at all. The outcome might very well be that both of you get appointed to the Southwest Branch to rebuild its fortunes," Bian Xiaoqi said with a smile.

"Director Bian, Changxue and I have only just begun; if we get exiled right away, how could we possibly bear it?" Lin Haidong blurted out upon hearing this.

"Old Four, Supervisor Meng just said that half a year from now is when your relationship truly begins, not right now. Don't play dumb," Qin Ke teased.

"It is not only women who are capable of deep affection, nor are husbands incapable of longing. Lin Haidong, with Changxue and me working together, what are you even worried about?" Bian Xiaoqi smiled.

"Old Liu, you're not getting out of this either anyway. I feel a bit more balanced now," Lin Haidong chuckled.

Part 3

After sending Lin Haidong and Meng Changxue off, Qin Ke brewed Bian Xiaoqi a cup of Emeishan tea given to them by Shen Jing. He then retreated to his room. Once Bian Xiaoqi finished her shower and went into the living room, he cleared the dining table, washed the pots and dishes, and took his own shower. After finishing his chores, he also poured himself a cup of tea and walked into Bian Xiaoqi's room.

Bian Xiaoqi was sitting up in bed in her pajamas, reading a book while sipping tea.

Qin Ke noticed a stack of advanced financial accounting, cost and management accounting, financial accounting, auditing, financial analysis, and tax law textbooks piled on one side of her headboard. On the other side were finance, international finance, commercial banking operations and management, securities investment, and technical analysis of securities investment, alongside corporate management books like human resources management, operations and supply chain management, marketing, and corporate governance. Surprised, he asked, "Xiaoqi, when did you buy all these books? These cover three distinct majors: accounting, finance, and business administration."

Bian Xiaoqi smiled, "While you were away on your business trip, I just happened to have some free time at night to read, so I bought these. My background is in Chinese literature, but because of Professor Jiang, I also took some law courses. My current work requires me to have a grasp of these professional subjects, so I wanted to recharge myself. You graduated from an engineering background; you should also study more of these subjects. I'm sure they'll come in handy later. Your liberal arts foundation is strong, and your memory is sharp, so reading these won't be difficult for you. While we are young, we should read and learn more. Starting today, let's guarantee at least an hour of reading every day. Deal?"

"Xiaoqi, you only regret not knowing enough when the time comes to use it, and extra knowledge never weighs you down. We shouldn't waste time on ineffective socializing and banquets. We can study together and discuss anything we don't understand," Qin Ke smiled.

Seeing Bian Xiaoqi reading a book titled *Cost and Management Accounting*, Qin Ke picked up a copy of *Financial Accounting*, sat down on her bed, and began to read. Watching Qin Ke read with intense concentration, Bian Xiaoqi smiled with satisfaction.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Ke noticed that Bian Xiaoqi had stopped turning pages. He looked up to find her sitting quietly, watching him with a gentle gaze. Smiling, he asked, "Why did you stop reading? Did you run into a problem?"

"Before your business trip, did you already know about the 'honey trap' Lin Haidong mentioned? Tell me your genuine feelings when you faced that 'honey trap' head-on," Bian Xiaoqi asked, deflecting his question.

"Oh, my dear lady. If I had known beforehand, I wouldn't have gone to Xizhou at all. In this lifetime, I only accept the 'honey trap' set by you alone," Qin Ke laughed.

Bian Xiaoqi put down her book, leaned over his back, and murmured softly, "I don't believe you had zero reaction when a beauty threw herself into your arms."

Qin Ke put down his book and pulled Bian Xiaoqi halfway into his embrace. Looking into her beautiful eyes, he said, "Xiaoqi, to say I had zero reaction would be a lie. But that kind of reaction is entirely different from how I feel holding you right now. One is primitive desire and flirtation; the other is love. Desire and flirtation can be resisted, but love is hard to control." With that, he kissed her red lips uncontrollably. "I'm willing to let you deploy your 'honey trap' on me right now."

Swept up by the moment, Qin Ke slid his hand beneath Bian Xiaoqi's loose pajamas, stroking her smooth, delicate skin and feeling the feverish warmth of her body. His sweet words and passionate kisses sent Bian Xiaoqi into a daze. With her eyes tightly closed, her face flushed red, and her breathing shallow and rapid, she did not stop him as he explored further. Since she had not put on a bra after her shower, his hand brushed against her soft, full breasts. His heart trembled, and his breathing grew ragged. He gently massaged her with his palms, terrified of hurting her.

Bian Xiaoqi yielded entirely to Qin Ke's caress. Wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, she pressed her lips firmly against his, slipping her tongue into his mouth to tangle with his. A moment later, she drew his tongue into her own mouth, sucking on it greedily.

Her fiery kisses made Qin Ke's blood rush, turning his breathing even heavier. His hand slid down her flat abdomen, tracing slowly downward. Just as he was about to slip beneath the hem of her underwear, Bian Xiaoqi seemed to snap awake. She instantly loosened her grip around his neck and swiftly pinned his wandering hand down. Pulling her lips away from his, she said with urgent finality, "No! Stop!"

Part 4

She removed his hand from inside her pajamas and pulled away from his embrace. Several buttons on her nightshirt had come undone at some point, exposing her fair chest. She hurriedly buttoned them up, smoothed down her disheveled hair, and stared at him without speaking for a long time.

Qin Ke seemed to snap back to reality as well. Feeling his face burn with embarrassment, he didn't dare meet Bian Xiaoqi's eyes. Softly, he said, "Xiaoqi, I got too carried away. I'm sorry."

Seeing Qin Ke's awkwardness, Bian Xiaoqi suddenly burst out laughing. "Poet Qin, was that love? Or was it primitive desire?"

"It is love! And it's desire, too! But I don't accept desire without love."

"What if the two of us had love without desire? Would that work?"

"Impossible. That's familial affection, not romantic love."

"How many times have you done this to a girl? I'll have you know this is the first time a guy has ever treated me like this..." Bian Xiaoqi asked, her face turning crimson.

"It's my first time, too. I only ever do this to the girl I love... and I'll only ever do it with you, forever..." Flustered by the question, Qin Ke stammered.

"You're pushing your luck. Did you forget Professor Jiang's advice?" Bian Xiaoqi pinched his arm hard.

"I remember Professor Jiang's advice. I also remember you saying I could kiss you and touch you. And I still want to kiss you and touch you," Qin Ke whispered.

"In your dreams," Bian Xiaoqi giggled playfully.

Looking at how utterly enchanting Bian Xiaoqi appeared under the warm light, Qin Ke pulled her back into his arms and showered her with kisses once more.

"You're incorrigible," Bian Xiaoqi muttered, though she put up no struggle, quietly indulging in his renewed tenderness.

***

Today is Friday, and tomorrow marks the start of the seven-day National Day holiday.

Qin Ke arrived at the office early in the morning and greeted Fu Sichen, who had arrived even earlier than him. However, Fu Sichen ignored him completely. He understood she was still furious with Lin Haidong, and as a bystander, he was simply catching stray fire.

At 9:00 AM, Qin Ke received a call from Lin Haidong stating that, following their agreed-upon strategy, he had already spoken with Qi Guosheng. Qi Guosheng attached great importance to the matter and promised it would be handled properly. Lin Haidong told Qin Ke to mentally prepare himself.

At 10:00 AM, Zheng Yutong personally walked over to Qin Ke's workstation. Without stating her purpose, she simply told him to come with her. Knowing full well what this was about, Qin Ke picked up his briefcase, stood up, and followed Zheng Yutong into Qi Guosheng's office.

Qi Guosheng was sitting on the office sofa, clearly waiting for him. Qin Ke stepped forward and said, "Director Qi, Director Zheng brought me here. Do you have something you need from me?"

Qi Guosheng sized Qin Ke up for a moment before speaking: "Supervisor Qin, hand over the materials."

Feigning ignorance, Qin Ke replied, "Director Qi, what materials are you asking me for?"

"Cut the act. Playing sick, crossing the Chencang in plain sight while stealing behind the scenes—I had no idea you possessed detective skills. You even managed to pull the wool over my eyes. Quick-witted, methodical, and handling things with proper discretion—you did a fine job." Qi Guosheng was amused into laughter by Qin Ke's feigned innocence.

"Director Qi, can I trust you?" Qin Ke asked.

"Why don't you tell me whom you trust right now?" Qi Guosheng countered.

"Previously, I only trusted Director Zheng Yutong and Manager Lin Haidong," Qin Ke said.

"Supervisor Qin, since you trust me, then let me solemnly tell you: please trust Director Qi. I vouch for him with my character," Zheng Yutong chimed in immediately, looking pleased that Qin Ke trusted her.

After a moment of silent deliberation, Qin Ke recounted the entire process of how he faked his illness in Xizhou and evaded surveillance. He then retrieved a stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them to Qi Guosheng.

After rapidly flipping through the materials, Qi Guosheng asked, "How do you hope to see this matter handled?"

Qin Ke pondered for another moment, then said with unyielding dignity, "Director Qi, if you were to claim that these are whistleblower materials received from the Xizhou end, it wouldn't seem appropriate; the company would inevitably dispatch someone else to verify them. If you say these are materials I uncovered myself, then I will inevitably be dragged into this vortex. But I want to say this: a person must retain a modicum of courage and justice. I am not afraid of being dragged into this vortex, so you should handle it according to your own judgment. If a company cannot even uphold basic justice, then it is not a company worth lingering in."

Impressed by Qin Ke's words, Zheng Yutong said to Qi Guosheng, "Director Qi, from the moment Supervisor Qin set out to find this evidence, he demonstrated extraordinary courage and the resolve to burn his boats behind him. We cannot let fairness and justice become empty words, nor can we let a responsible employee like Supervisor Qin down."

Qi Guosheng contemplated for a moment before saying, "Supervisor Qin, I will report this matter truthfully to President Hans. Just wait for word."

Zheng Yutong led Qin Ke back to her office and said sincerely, "Supervisor Qin, I truly admire you. I believe we will certainly continue to work together."

Qin Ke smiled and replied, "Thank you for your high praise, Director Zheng. Things certainly won't be this simple, but once an arrow leaves the bow, there's no turning back. Whatever the final outcome may be, I accept it with a calm mind."