Chapter 9: 008 President Xia Treats

"Xia He didn't give me any benefit." Fang Qingye looked up at Zhao Wenjun:

"It's because you went too far. You and Xia He can fight however you want, but you can't make innocent people take the fall for you!"

"Innocent people? You mean Zhang Qunying, right? I know—if this matter isn't resolved quickly, because of public opinion, the bank will make her take the blame, at the very least demoting her, maybe even firing her. But that's only temporary!"

"You're also very clear that our bank wasn't wrong at all in this matter! If I become branch president, once the investigation clears things up, I'll definitely have Zhang Qunying come back to work... I estimate three months, at most half a year, and this matter will come to light. All of this was within my calculations—but you ruined it!"

After Zhao Wenjun finished speaking, his eyes turned cold and dark.

Fang Qingye, however, smiled faintly and said, "President Zhao, your little scheme is quite nicely calculated, but have you thought about it—these three months or half a year, how much grievance and torment will Zhang Qunying have to endure?! How will her life and family be affected? How will her relatives and friends look at her?!"

"You say you've suffered injustice, but is this fair to Zhang Qunying?! Why should she be the sacrificial lamb of your struggle?! Just because she's a nobody?!"

Fang Qingye wasn't exaggerating.

He remembered that, because of this very matter, Zhang Qunying's husband divorced her, and a perfectly good family fell apart.

Zhao Wenjun was stunned for a moment and said nothing more; both fell silent.

After a good while, Zhao Wenjun finished the wine in his glass, stood up, and said to Fang Qingye, "I'm full. I'm leaving. Don't forget to settle the bill."

Saying that, he turned and walked toward the door.

"President Zhao." Fang Qingye suddenly called out to him.

"You told me so much today—aren't you afraid I'll go to Xia He or President Liu and report that you're the one sabotaging things from behind?!"

"You won't." Zhao Wenjun smiled and said, "Besides, I'm resigning tomorrow. What difference does it make whether you report me or not?"

Saying that, he pushed open the door and left.

Only through the window did Fang Qingye notice that it had somehow started raining outside.

The rain outside grew heavier and heavier, and soon the whole world was a hazy veil of water.

He didn't leave, just quietly drank the wine remaining in his glass.

The very next day at work, news of Zhao Wenjun's resignation indeed came through. He placed his resignation letter on Xia He's desk, packed up his things, and left without looking back—reportedly heading to Shencheng.

Soon, President Zhang formally processed his retirement procedures. Someone from the municipal branch came to announce that Xia He would serve as president of the Nanxin Sub-branch, and that Su Ming, the former head of the Credit Section, was promoted to vice president. One remaining vice president position would continue to be evaluated for candidates.

Xia He also transferred Zhang Qunying from the Qianjin Road Savings Office back to the sub-branch itself, appointing her head of the Credit Section, while the Qianjin Road Savings Office would be headed by Liu Na from within the office.

The sub-branch carried out a series of personnel adjustments, but all of this had nothing to do with Fang Qingye—he continued his internship in the Credit Section as before.

This noon, after lunch, Fang Qingye had just stepped out of the cafeteria and was about to head back to his office when his phone suddenly rang. He took it out and saw it was actually a call from Xia He.

Her call?

Fang Qingye naturally had his leaders' phone numbers saved, but they had never contacted each other. Including the matter of Tenglong Industries—after the investigation ended, Xia He still hadn't sought him out alone. As for work, there wasn't much overlap either; Xia He wouldn't arrange work directly at Fang Qingye's level.

A sudden call today?

Fang Qingye thought for a moment but still answered, saying:

"President Xia, hello."

"Xiao Fang, are you free tonight? Let me treat you to a meal." Xia He's pleasant voice came through the receiver.

Treating him to a meal?

Fang Qingye immediately understood.

The other party wanted to thank him, but he still asked, "President Xia, what's the occasion for your treat?"

Xia He on the other end was quite direct: "To express my thanks to you."

"No need for the courtesy, President Xia. I just did what I was supposed to do." Fang Qingye instinctively looked up at the location of the third-floor president's office.

Sure enough, through the window he saw a figure inside, looking at him.

It was Xia He.

Xia He's voice quickly sounded again through the phone receiver: "How can that do? Besides, when Zhao Wenjun treated you to dinner you agreed happily, but when I treat you, you decline? You won't give your senior sister some face?!"

Fang Qingye laughed when he heard that: "Alright then, where?"

"It's not convenient outside. Come to my place, I'll stir-fry a few dishes. I'll send the specific address to your phone."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Fang Qingye glanced at the third floor again—the figure had already disappeared.

After work in the afternoon, Fang Qingye packed up his things, then went downstairs and got on his little step-through scooter. He didn't go to Xia He's place, but headed home first.

After arriving home, Fang Qingye first went to the bedroom to take off his uniform, changed into a T-shirt and casual pants, then went to the living room to prepare a note for his mom saying he wouldn't be home for dinner.

But unexpectedly, just then the door opened and his mom, Zhang Meili, walked in.

"Mom, I'm going out to eat with a friend in a bit, so you don't need to cook for me tonight." Fang Qingye hurriedly said.

"With Song Dahai again?" Zhang Meili said as she hung her bag on the coat rack in the living room and started changing her shoes.

"No, it's our President Xia treating me." Fang Qingye told the truth.

"President Xia? That young, pretty female president at your bank? She's treating? How many people?" Zhang Meili was immediately interested.

"Just me."

"Why? I heard you say your President Xia is already married, right?" Zhang Meili raised her head and looked at him.

"What's marriage got to do with treating someone to a meal?" Fang Qingye was both annoyed and amused, so he explained:

"Mainly she feels I helped her out." Fang Qingye then briefly told his mom about his deductions regarding the Tenglong deposit theft case and the role he had played.

Zhang Meili laughed when she heard. "Oh my... couldn't tell you had this kind of skill. Weren't you just fooling around for all four years of college?"

Fang Qingye was instantly speechless.

Mom, am I really that useless in your eyes?

Though those four years of college really were spent goofing off, basically in internet cafes playing games.

Fang Qingye was about to say something, but was waved off by his mom: "Go, go. Perfect, I don't have to make dinner."

Fine, being looked down on again.

Fang Qingye didn't say anything more, went downstairs, got back on his little step-through scooter, and rode out of the family compound heading north.

Xia He lived in the North Pearl Community, a newly built high-end residential area on the northern edge of the county town, which contained not only high-rise buildings but also two rows of villas.

Following the address sent to his phone, Fang Qingye arrived at a high-rise in Zone B and took the elevator to the twelfth floor.

Xia He's home was said to be in the provincial capital; this place was merely a temporary stop, and the apartment had been purchased by the bank branch specifically for leaders whose families did not reside in Nanxin.

After going upstairs, Fang Qingye rang the doorbell, and the door opened less than two minutes later.

At this moment, Xia He wore a T-shirt and jeans; her previously coiled bun had become loose hair cascading over her shoulders, adding a touch of charm to her free-spirited air.

With an apron tied around her waist, she carried an added flavor of a young housewife.