Chapter 584: Another Girlfriend, Difficult

"X—President Xie."

Qiuqiu greeted her quickly, her voice carrying a bit of restraint.

"It really is you, I thought I saw wrong." A genuine smile appeared on Xie Shuyu’s face, carrying the joy of reuniting with an old friend. "Long time no see, what a coincidence, I didn't expect to run into you here."

She had a deep impression of this designer who had once collaborated with her.

Not just because of Cheng Qiuqiu’s outstanding figure and appearance, but also because of her talent and spirituality.

Back then, the website redesign, mini-program UI, and posters for [Glimmer Coffee] were all her work.

Not only was it done excellently, but the efficiency was also extremely high.

Later, when she heard that she had resigned from Inspiration Design, Xie Shuyu felt quite regretful, never expecting to reunite here.

"Long time no see, President Xie." Qiuqiu tucked her hair somewhat embarrassedly. "Are you going on a business trip?"

"Yeah, going to Rongcheng, how about you?"

"Me too, my home is in Rongcheng."

"Oh, right, I have some impression, I remember you mentioned it before."

The two chatted simply for a few sentences, and the train station broadcast sounded.

Ticket checking, boarding.

Inside the first-class carriage, a 2+2 seat layout was adopted, and the wide leather seats had plenty of space in front and behind.

It was Qiuqiu’s first time sitting in first class, and she couldn't help but look around curiously.

When she found her seat according to the ticket information, she realized that she was actually sitting next to that President Xie.

Seeing this, Xie Shuyu also smiled, walked in first, and sat down by the window.

Qiuqiu sat down next to her, and the whole person became restrained and nervous.

She was extremely bad at socializing, especially in such an enclosed space.

When they met before, they could at least chat about work.

But now—the train ride would last a full seven hours, which was simply a long torment for her.

Seeming to sense her unease and the strangeness of the atmosphere, Xie Shuyu took the initiative to start a conversation, chatting with her about the food and weather in Rongcheng.

As a self-made female entrepreneur, Xie Shuyu naturally had superb social skills.

Facing an "introverted and quiet person" like Cheng Qiuqiu, she didn't talk about any nerve-wracking topics, just shared her experiences easily like a friend.

The train started slowly, and the familiar winter scenery of Yancheng outside the window began to retreat rapidly.

After chatting for a while, the atmosphere in the carriage eased a lot.

Xie Shuyu took out a Pad with a keyboard from her handbag and put on headphones.

She said softly to Cheng Qiuqiu, "I'll handle some work first," and began to work earnestly.

Qiuqiu let out a sigh of relief, lowered her head, and began to daze.

This time returning to Rongcheng, she hadn't contacted her mother in advance, and she didn't know what attitude to face that woman with.

In fact, since she started university, she had rarely returned to that cold "home."

Choosing to stay in Yancheng after graduation was largely because she wanted to escape completely.

Near noon, the dining car’s peddling sound came. Cheng Qiuqiu opened the 12306 APP, preparing to order a lunch.

She looked at Xie Shuyu who was still busy beside her, hesitated for a long time, her lips moved, and she still asked politely in a low voice, "President Xie, would you like to eat something? Should I order for you?"

Xie Shuyu’s gaze didn't leave the screen, just said casually: "An eel and beef combo rice, thank you."

"Okay." Cheng Qiuqiu breathed a sigh of relief, added the eel and beef combo rice, and ordered her favorite chili pork rice for herself.

Soon, she received a transfer of 40 yuan for the meal from Xie Shuyu on WeChat.

The flight attendant delivered the steaming meal.

Xie Shuyu still didn't stop working, just took off one earphone, and ate while making a phone call.

"I don't want to hear any excuses, I just want the result."

"...No, we cannot accept a 3% increase, this is our bottom line. You tell President Li, if they can't give a new plan before get off work today, we will immediately start the backup contract with that factory in Jiangcheng—"

Looking at her capable female entrepreneur appearance, Qiuqiu sighed secretly in her heart.

She had always known that this President Xie was a workaholic and very serious, very concerned about cost control.

Many projects in the company were outsourced, including design, development, and even the employees of the coffee shop, many of whom were part-time.

Many projects in the company are outsourced, including design, development, and even the employees in the cafe; many are part-time.

The old employees of Inspiration Design didn't want to take this job, so they arranged the task for her, a newcomer.

However, she liked it very much.

Because Xie Shuyu never beat around the bush when speaking and doing things, and could clearly point out even if she was only slightly dissatisfied with a design draft.

Official business was official business, and she never engaged in vain human favors.

For her who was not good at socializing, this was the best client.

This was also the main reason why she respected Xie Shuyu from the bottom of her heart. After eating, sleepiness gradually surged like a tide.

She didn't sleep well last night, and now that her spirit was relaxed, she couldn't hold on anymore.

Leaning on the soft seat back, thinking about the various troublesome things about going home this time.

Unknowingly, she fell into a deep sleep.

After four o'clock in the afternoon.

When Cheng Qiuqiu woke up from a slight bump.

She found that there was an extra warm cashmere coat with a faint perfume scent on her body at some point.

She was stunned, turned to look, and Xie Shuyu was closing the iPad, her face carrying a trace of fatigue.

"Awake?"

"President Xie—" Qiuqiu’s cheeks turned red instantly, and she quickly picked up the coat on her body and handed it over, "Thank you, sorry, I—"

"It's okay." Xie Shuyu took the coat, put it aside, and smiled gently: "Seeing you sleeping so soundly, I was afraid you would catch a cold."

She looked at Qiuqiu, as if she finally had some leisure time, and started chatting with her actively: "By the way, I haven't asked you, after you resigned from Inspiration Design, where did you jump to?"

She really appreciated Cheng Qiuqiu.

Now [Glimmer Coffee] had completed the first step of national expansion deployment.

The subsequent brand visual system upgrade would become very important, and outsourcing would no longer be appropriate; the team was currently being formed.

If possible, she didn't mind taking action herself to dig this talented and honest designer directly into her command.

In fact, her eye for people had always been very good.

Back then, the 3 long-term outsourcing partners of Glimmer Coffee—Tang Song responsible for technical development, Wen Ruan responsible for marketing planning, and Cheng Qiuqiu responsible for visual design.

Were all top-tier talents.

However, there was definitely no need to dig Tang Song and Wen Ruan.

But the Cheng Qiuqiu in front of her might still be worth fighting for.

"In a clothing e-commerce company," Qiuqiu answered softly, "still doing visual design."

Xie Shuyu was instantly interested, "Clothing e-commerce? It's a good industry. For designers, the development space in this industry is very large. The feedback cycle is short, and you can directly contact the most real user data."

"Yeah, indeed." Qiuqiu nodded.

The two chatted for a while about clothing e-commerce.

Xie Shuyu asked casually: "What is your company’s name?"

Qiuqiu answered seriously: "Songmei Clothing Trading Co., Ltd., over at Cloud Creek Building."

Xie Shuyu was stunned when she heard this, full of surprise: "Songmei Clothing?"

"Yeah, President Xie, do you know it?" Just after speaking, Qiuqiu suddenly reacted again, "Oh right! President Xie, you also know our President Tang!"

Her state today was really too poor, she had been thinking about her family, and forgot that Tang Song was previously the outsourcing programmer for Glimmer Coffee.

She and Tang Song were also introduced by Xie Shuyu at the Glimmer Coffee headquarters.

Recalling the scene of their first meeting, she couldn't help but curl her lips.

That day, Xie Shuyu called her to the Huayun Center to dock the visual plan with the developers.

She ran into Tang Song, who was wearing Under Armour sportswear, downstairs.

He saw her riding a bike over downstairs, kept staring at her, and even secretly took a photo of her with his phone.

So, her first impression of him was not good.

Who would have thought that so many things would happen later.

Xie Shuyu chuckled, her tone carrying a hint of appropriate teasing, "Okay, so you were dug away by Tang Song. He is really not authentic, digging someone I fancy, and didn't even know to say hello to me in advance, how to say, it was also me who introduced you to know each other."

Qiuqiu heard this and immediately subconsciously defended Tang Song: "No, President Xie! I encountered a problem at the company and was recruited by a senior sister. President Tang—he—he also only knew later that I entered the company—"

Xie Shuyu looked at her nervous defense, her eyebrows raised imperceptibly, and her eyes flickered.

Seeming to have guessed something.

"Hehe, you misunderstood, I don't mean to blame him. You might not know yet, he is now a major shareholder of [Glimmer Coffee] and participated in our Series A financing."

"Ah? Is that so—"

Xie Shuyu nodded, drank some water, looked into her eyes and said: "And, I am his girlfriend now."

Boom—a buzzing sound in Cheng Qiuqiu’s head.

Another girlfriend?!

Still President Xie?!

In her heart, Xie Shuyu was a kind of existence close to an elder.

Not only because the other party was 10 years older than her, but also because of the mature and capable aura on Xie Shuyu, as well as the self-made, admirable female entrepreneur halo.

In her eyes, this was an elder she respected and even feared a little.

Never expected that she was Tang Song’s girlfriend?

She looked at this "female president" who was elegant and impeccable from every angle, and then thought of the senior sister, Tian Jing,

Xu Qing.

Her brain was a mess.

How—how many girlfriends does he have?

"Why don't you talk? Is it very strange?"

Xie Shuyu’s voice sounded again, pulling her back to reality from her chaotic thoughts.

Her tone was still gentle, but her bright eyes were quietly watching her with a hint of imperceptible scrutiny.

"No—nothing—" Qiuqiu subconsciously avoided the other party’s gaze, her voice panicked: "Just a bit surprised, congratulations, President Xie."

"Thank you." Xie Shuyu nodded lightly, leaning on the seat back, and looked at the young female designer beside her calmly.

The exquisite face that could be broken by a blow was full of collagen.

The figure was sexy to the extreme.

The appearance and temperament were cold, but the body was full of girlishness.

A bit like the big star Su Yu.

Xie Shuyu was looking at Cheng Qiuqiu’s appearance head-on for the first time, with many feelings.

Youth is really good.

After all, once some things pass, they will never come back.

She subconsciously touched the corner of her eye and sighed in her heart.

Recently, she was really too busy.

A new round of national expansion, strategic docking with coffee suppliers under Smile Holdings, and the upcoming Rongcheng trip—every single thing made her unable to separate herself.

She and Tang Song, although they were boyfriend and girlfriend in name, had very little time to meet.

Regarding this point, her heart was actually full of deep guilt and unease.

So she never interfered with his private life, which was what they said at the beginning.

And at this moment, seeing the designer Cheng Qiuqiu, whom she once regarded as a "junior," showing girlish feelings for Tang Song.

A subtle sense of crisis and possessiveness belonging to a woman still made her subconsciously throw out that sentence of "declaring sovereignty."

Perhaps she really should let go of work a little bit.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but surge with inexplicable nervousness.

For this kind of intimate relationship that needs to be maintained with sensibility, she was actually very unconfident.

5:17 PM.

After a smooth ride of more than seven hours, the high-speed train finally drove slowly into Rongcheng East Station.

The sky outside the window was still bright, and the winter sun was hanging on the western horizon.

Plating a layer of soft golden halo for this provincial capital city of the "Land of Abundance."

The train stopped steadily.

The two walked out of the carriage one after another, walking towards the exit with the crowd.

The scale of Rongcheng East Station was huge, and the design was full of modernity and technology.

Under the huge glass dome, people were surging, full of the unique atmosphere of the Southwest region—both leisurely and full of vitality.

Walking out of the ticket gate and coming to the wide exit hall.

Xie Shuyu stopped and asked: "Qiuqiu, which district is your home in? My friend is driving to pick me up, if it's not a detour, I'll send you a ride."

Cheng Qiuqiu quickly waved her hand, "No need, President Xie, I can just take the subway, it's very convenient."

"Alright." Xie Shuyu didn't insist anymore. She looked at Qiuqiu, her bright and energetic eyes revealing a trace of gentleness, "I will stay in Rongcheng for a while, if you have anything, you can call me at any time."

"Yeah, thank you, President Xie. You also—take care of your rest."

After a simple farewell, Cheng Qiuqiu carried her suitcase and walked towards the subway entrance.

Soon, she merged into the surging crowd.

Xie Shuyu stood in place, watching her back disappear around the corner, before slowly withdrawing her gaze.

Turned around and walked towards the exit on the other side.

Just as she walked out of the passage, a familiar figure came into her eyes.

"Xiaoyu!"

A woman wearing a khaki trench coat and short hair was leaning against a black Audi A6L, waving at her with a smile.

"Ranran."

A truly relaxed smile finally appeared on Xie Shuyu’s face.

The person who came was her friend of many years, Meng Ran.

Also her good sister who lived in the upper and lower bunks in college.

"I thought you would be late." Xie Shuyu walked up and hugged her lightly, "How is it? The things I asked you to check, is there any clue?"

"Don't worry," Meng Ran helped her put the suitcase into the trunk, and while closing the car door, said: "That Chen Young Master of [Shuxian Cold Chain] has a very complicated situation. Let's go, get in the car and talk, and by the way, take you to taste the most authentic private kitchen food in Rongcheng."

The two smiled at each other and sat in the car.

The black Audi A6L merged into the crowded traffic of the evening rush hour and drove towards the depths of the city.

Twilight was slowly descending in this bustling metropolis.

Subway Line 7 traveled steadily in the underground tunnel.

Looking at the familiar station names flashing past the window, listening to the Sichuan and Chongqing dialects one after another in her ears.

Cheng Qiuqiu had an indescribable feeling of being separated from the world.

Her home, or rather, the place where her mother lived now, was an old relocated housing community near Shanbanqiao.

That place belonged to the East Second Ring Road of Rongcheng, a place full of strong market atmosphere, where new and old buildings were mixed.

It was also the place where she spent her entire oppressive adolescence since junior high school.

Every alley there, every yellow barrel tree, and even the smell of hot pot base and dampness mixed in the air, were all the past she had tried her best to escape.

And now, she was back.

The subway stopped at "University of Technology" station.

Cheng Qiuqiu carried her bag, got off the train with the crowd, transferred to a bus, and sat for four or five stops before finally getting off at that familiar yet strange station.

The sky had completely darkened, the street lights emitted dim yellow light, pulling her shadow very long.

Walking through a noisy street full of people.

Her figure stopped under a red brick family building that looked quite aged.

Step by step, she climbed the stairs.

Finally, she stopped in front of a dilapidated anti-theft door on the 4th floor.

Took out the key, inserted it into the lock, and twisted it gently.

"Click—"

The door was pushed open.

Everything in front of her was so familiar, and so strange.

Walking into that small room of her own, she stood the suitcase in the corner and looked around.

The room was very small, less than ten square meters.

A single bed, an old wardrobe, and a desk occupied by various books and painting tools were almost everything.

Many posters of Su Yu were pasted on the wall.

Here, it seemed to be frozen by time, and everything maintained the appearance when she left.

In her eyes, a trace of nostalgic yet resistant emotion flowed out involuntarily.

After putting away her luggage, Qiuqiu didn't stay too long.

Took out toiletries and change of clothes, put them in her backpack, lowered her head, and walked out without saying a word.

Coming out of the community, Qiuqiu hailed a taxi on the side of the road and went straight to the Second People’s Hospital of Rongcheng.

Inpatient building, sixth floor.

The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant alcohol.

The corridor was very quiet, only the occasional conversation from the nurse station and the "beep beep" sound from the instruments.

She walked to the door of ward 603, through the glass window on the door.

At a glance, she saw the weak figure lying on the bed, eyes closed, receiving an IV drip.

Just then.

A familiar voice came to her ears: "Oh, Qiuqiu! You finally came!"

Qiuqiu turned her head and saw Aunt Wang Aijuan, who was holding a water cup and walking over from the hot water area.

"Aunt Wang, thank you for your hard work. My mom, how is she?"

"The doctor said there is nothing major, just a mild concussion, stay in the hospital for observation for a few days, and she can be discharged when she is fine." Aunt Wang put the thermos on the ground and said again: "The money you transferred before, I have already paid the hospitalization deposit, and the excess will be refunded to you when you are discharged."

"Thank you."

"Don't be polite, we are all old neighbors." Aunt Wang patted her on the shoulder, "I'm relieved now that you are here, your mom is asleep. I have to go back quickly, there are still a lot of things waiting for me at home."

After a simple farewell, Aunt Wang left in a hurry.

Qiuqiu stood at the door for a long time before finally gathering the courage to push open that door.

This was a standard large ward, with five hospital beds lined up inside, all occupied.

The air was mixed with the smell of medicine, food, and the unique smell of patients, which was a bit stuffy.

She walked to the bed at the very end and sat down on a plastic stool.

She looked at the woman with a thick bandage wrapped around her head and a pale face.

In her memory, this woman was always shrewd and spicy, her waist straight, and she spoke like a string of firecrackers, fast and loud.

For her as a child, that was a presence full of oppression.

But at this moment, she looked much older than in her memory, as if all her energy had been completely drained away with this accident.

Also, she loved money so much.

Seeing money as more important than her own life.

In order to make money, she ran from her hometown to Rong

It makes sense, she loves money so much.

She values money more than her own life.

In order to earn money, she ran from her hometown to Rongcheng, opened a snack shop, worked from dawn till dusk, and didn't even take care of herself.

Now, her life savings have gone down the drain, and she is still lying here.

Time passed bit by bit in this silence.

Qiuqiu just sat there blankly, not saying a word.

She didn't know how much time had passed.

Li Meihua's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She was stunned at first, as if she hadn't reacted yet.

"Qiuqiu, why did you suddenly come back?"

Qiuqiu asked back in a tone devoid of any emotion: "Isn't it you who called me every day urging me to come back?"

Li Meihua parted her cracked lips, wanting to say something, but it was as if something was blocking her.

In the end, she subconsciously avoided her daughter's gaze.

There was no longer the sharpness of the past in her eyes, only panic and shame.

Qiuqiu didn't speak again; she took an apple from the fruit basket on the bedside table.

The blade sliced through the peel, making a faint "rustling" sound.

Li Meihua turned her head away, tears gradually welling up in her eyes.

Rongcheng, Yulin area, the Narrow Door Private Kitchen restaurant deep in a quiet alley.

In the courtyard, bamboo shadows swayed and a stream murmured, while the air was filled with the faint fragrance of gardenias.

Xie Shuyu and Meng Ran sat opposite each other, with a few of the most authentic Sichuan-style home-cooked dishes in front of them.

Without the tension of working during the day, they shed all their identities and disguises.

They seemed to have turned back into those two good sisters from university who could talk about anything.

Looking at her friend across from her, Xie Shuyu's eyes were filled with the gentle radiance of memories.

Once, she and Meng Ran walked out of university together and broke into that magnificent, bustling world of Shanghai.

When they were young, they wore ZARA they could only afford after getting their first paycheck, drinking hand-drip coffee at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery.

Carrying CHANEL WOCs bought on installment, they ate fine dining at the top floor of K11.

On weekends, they would walk arm in arm to browse the Galeries Lafayette, and even if they couldn't afford to buy anything, they were still happy to do so.

They would also shout their dreams out loud on Huaihai Road in the middle of the night without any reservations.

Naively thinking that they could stay young in that city forever.

They were considered the luckier batch of post-90s generation, favored by the era.

It was just that later, they each chose different paths.

After Xie Shuyu keenly discovered the commercial prospects of the coffee track, she quit her job, returned to Yancheng, and plunged into the sea of entrepreneurship.

Through struggles and ups and downs, she finally achieved today's success.

While Meng Ran chose another, more stable path.

She had been working deeply within the giant enterprise Alibaba, and now she had become an operations executive for the Southwest region of Hema Fresh.

In fact, regarding personal achievement alone, if Shimmer Coffee hadn't been valued highly by Tang Song, she might not necessarily have surpassed Meng Ran.

After all, the huge influence of a platform is difficult for individual effort to reach.

"Clink."

The green plum wine glasses clinked lightly in the air, making a crisp sound.

Meng Ran took a sip, put down the wine glass, and her expression became more serious: "The reminiscing is about enough. Now, let's talk about the serious business you care about most."

"Mm." Xie Shuyu immediately sat up straight.

"Xiaoyu, you must be cautious about Chen Hao from that Shuxian Supply Chain. It is almost impossible to bypass him and the Chen family behind him in the Southwest region." Xie Shuyu listened quietly, her eyes flickering, and her heart gradually sank.

Nowadays, the upstream coffee bean production and roasting links for Shimmer Coffee are fully handled by Yuntong Essence, a top-tier supplier under Smile Holdings, with impeccable quality and supply. This also fueled her greater ambition to integrate the logistics system.

After all, to maintain flavor consistency to the greatest extent, it is necessary to deliver these roasted coffee beans with extremely short shelf lives, as well as supporting high-quality dairy products and fresh-baked semi-finished products, to every store in the country in the most efficient and low-cost way.

A perfect cold chain logistics system is the top priority.

Shimmer Coffee's stores in the Southwest, as a temporary transition, are cooperating with Shuxian Supply Chain through the introduction of the local catering association.

But after two months of cooperation, she was extremely dissatisfied with the other party's inflated quotes, rigid delivery efficiency, and the frequent occurrence of goods damage.

For a long time, she has had a near-paranoid pursuit of cost control.

To compress expenses, she rarely even took business class on business trips, and most of the company's non-core businesses were all outsourced.

And the Southwest is the next most important strategic expansion area for Shimmer after North China.

Xie Shuyu naturally wanted everything to be perfect.

Coming to Rongcheng this time was originally with the preparation for a showdown and changing suppliers.

But now it seems that things are far more difficult than she imagined.

Shuxian Supply Chain belongs to the local logistics giant, Zhongshu Group.

General Manager Chen Hao's father is not only the chairman of Zhongshu Group but also the vice president of the provincial catering association.

It is said that there is also an official background behind it.

If she really bit the bullet and replaced them, it would mean completely offending this local snake entrenched here.

Subsequent actions might bring about a series of chain reactions.