As he spoke, Vice President Wu laughed, “That day at the meeting you directly closed Mr. Zhao’s account, I almost got angry with Qin Moling. I asked him to stop you, but he ignored me. You two, you always make an example of Zhao Yanhai’s people. Fortunately, the Fourth Division doesn’t make much money, so Zhao Yanhai wasn’t too angry after you closed Mr. Zhao’s account.”

He asked, “Do you know why Zhao Yanhai invited you to dinner today?”

Jian Hang could never have imagined that the answer was, “Zhao Yanhai wanted to make a private exchange of benefits with you.”

If Zhao Yanhai could secure more large orders for the Fourth Division’s factories, she would have more cash flow at her disposal. Zhao Yanhai used this advantage to trade with her for his brother’s distributorship.

Vice President Wu poured Jian Hang some water and sat down. “Zhao Yanhai thinks you have the potential to revitalize the Fourth Division, and he wants to take back the distribution rights for the Fourth Division. Your performance at the meeting today was very insightful. He can see that you are pragmatic, which is why he came to make a deal with you.”

“Will you trade benefits or not?” he asked.

Jian Hang didn’t hesitate at all. “Trade. Why not trade?”

This would allow them to earn more OEM revenue and also bring back Mr. Zhao, a major distributor, to the Fourth Division. It would be entirely beneficial for the Fourth Division and for Lemeng.

“Zhao Yanhai’s meaning couldn’t be clearer: you have to go to Suzhou to apologize to Mr. Zhao and then give him back the distributor rights, instead of President Zhao coming to you again.”

Vice President Wu was worried, “Are you willing to swallow your pride and go to Suzhou to apologize?”

Jian Hangfeng said calmly, “I can afford to. I only care about the substance.”

From Lemeng’s perspective, saving face was the least useful thing for her.

… …

Back in her office, Jian Hang called Zheng Yanshu to ask where he was.

Zheng Yanshu has been in Jiangcheng for the past few days but was currently at the Jiangcheng high-speed rail station. “I’m going to Suzhou.” He wanted to visit Mr. Zhao in Suzhou.

Jian Hang said, “See you in Suzhou tomorrow at noon. Wait for me, we can visit Mr. Zhao together.”

“?”

“I made a deal with Zhao Yanhai. He will try his best to get more OEM orders for our factories, and I will return Fourth Division distributor rights to Mr. Zhao. No matter how you look at it, the Fourth Division will make a profit.”

“You closed accounts on the spot at the meeting, and now, so short a time later, you’re already contradicting yourself and begging Mr. Zhao to return!”

“Times change.”

Jian Hang reassured him, “I won’t go back on my word.”

After ending the call, she asked Xiao Fan to book a high-speed rail ticket to Suzhou for the next morning.

“The first train,” she instructed Xiao Fan.

… …

They had a regular meeting in the afternoon, and Jian Hang arrived at the conference room five minutes early. Zhou Yi and Lin Xiao were both there.

She asked, “Who among you is familiar with Zhong Yanyue from the Second Division?”

Zhou Yi said, “I’m familiar with her. What’s the matter?”

Jian Hang: “They’ve changed their spokesperson for the Second Division—Tan Moxing. Ask Zhong Yanyue for a few autographed posters of Tan Moxing. My housekeeper is a fan of.”

Zhou Yi: “…”

He shouldn’t have answered! He should have known that she was setting up a trap with her next sentence.

……

Before getting off work, Jian Hang received Tan Moxing’s autographed posters. These were probably items that Zhong Yanyue had previously asked Tan Moxing for herself, and she gave two of them to Zhou Yi.

She took the two posters with her and went to the villa.

She hasn’t seen Aunt Geng for quite a while; she missed her tea eggs.

Upon arriving at the villa, Qin Moling’s car was in the yard.

Aunt Geng came out to greet her. “Why didn’t you tell me beforehand? I would have prepared dinner for you.”

Jian Hang said, “I don’t eat much at night.”

She handed the poster to Aunt Geng, saying, “I’ve come to give you this.”

Aunt Geng opened it and was so happy she couldn’t speak.

Jian Hang went upstairs to find Qin Moling. It turned out that his so-called ‘business’ was to decorate the villa.

Qin Moling heard the chatter in the courtyard downstairs. Jian Hang had just turned onto the second floor when he heard footsteps and said, “I’m in the study.”

Jian Hang went to the study, opened the door, and saw him typing on his computer. “May I come in?”

Qin Moling was discussing the plan with the florist when he looked up at her and said, “It’s not convenient. You can stay at the door, and I’ll keep you company in a bit.”

Jian Hang leaned against the door frame and reported her plan to go to Suzhou tomorrow.

She would be gone tomorrow, and wouldn’t be back until the day after or the day after that. This was her first business trip since she came to Lemeng.

When Qin Moling heard that she was going to Suzhou, he asked, “To see Mr. Zhao?”

“Mm.”

“What if I don’t allow you to go?”

Jian Hang knew that he didn’t want her to admit she made a mistake, but she didn’t care about this. “I don’t think it’s wrong for me to go to Mr. Zhao.”

Qin Moling stopped typing. “To me, it is.” He couldn’t bear to see her wronged, let alone make her travel all the way to Suzhou to apologize. That was impossible.

“If you’ve already booked a ticket, cancel it. I’ll go talk to Zhao Yanhai.”

“Won’t refund. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone have a handle me. I have other things to discuss with Mr. Zhao.” Jian Hang made her point clear, “I’m reporting my itinerary because you’re my husband. If you use your position as the boss to obstruct me, then I will never talk to you about anything related to the Fourth Division again.”

Regarding the grievances, she said, “I don’t care about the grievances others give me; what I care about is my interests. Only grievances done to me by certain people are real grievances.”

Qin Moling stared at her intently, “You’re practically calling me out by name. I’m the one who’s suffering here because of you.”

Jian Hang laughed, “You’re feeling guilty yourself, so don’t blame me if you take it personally.”

Qin Moling stood up and walked over to her. “How did I wrong you?”

Jian Hang replied, “Sometimes when you speak in a bad tone, I feel wronged.”

Qin Moling hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself. She had never reflected on her separation from her husband.

He lowered his head and kissed her gently.

From the study to the bedroom.

Jian Hang kissed him back, kissing his Adam’s apple more than ten times.

Qin Moling’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

… …

The bathroom in the villa’s master bedroom was four or five times the size of her apartment bathroom. Jian Hang was taking a bath in the bathtub, while Qin Moling was taking a shower.

After rinsing off, Qin Moling put on a bathrobe and went to the study next door to get a water glass.

Jian Hang soaked for another ten minutes or so. Today she used cherry blossom essential oil, and her body had a faint cherry blossom scent.

She had just gotten out of the bathtub when Qin Moling pushed the door open and came in.

He bent down and lifted her up in his arms.

Jian Hang was soaked, and his dark bathrobe got wet.

Qin Moling placed her on the pillow and turned off the bedside lamp.

His kisses were like water from a showerhead, moist and at the perfect temperature.

They fell densely, covering every part of her body.

The watch hands silently slid around and around, and no one knew how much time had passed. Their fingers were tightly clasped together, and the two were pressed tightly together.

Water from Qin Moling’s hair fell onto her cheek.

He asked for it twice in five days.

Jian Hang was going to Suzhou on a business trip tomorrow. “I’m going back, I haven’t packed my luggage yet.”

Qin Moling had other things to do, so he didn’t see her off.

…  …

When Jian Hang got home, she packed her luggage for her first business trip. Then she changed her hand bag to a larger bag that could carry her tablet, so he wouldn’t have to bring her laptop with her.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Jian Hang rushed to the high-speed rail station.

Her mother had a very fruitful trip abroad. She sent her pictures of a few dresses she had bought, saying: [What do you think? Your mother-in-law and I both think they suit your style.]

Jian Hang enlarged the photos; it was her favorite style. [Why did you buy so many?]

Chen Yu: [Qin Moling said you don’t have enough clothes. We’re going shopping again tomorrow.]

[You’re busy; your mother-in-law and I haven’t had dinner yet.]

After saying goodbye, Jian Hang took out her tablet and analyzed the situation of distributors in the four major regions.

Before she knew it, more than half of the journey had passed.

Qin Moling messaged her, asking: [What time will you be finished tonight? Should I call you?]

Jian Hang: [I don’t know when I’ll be finished. Call me if you want.]

Qin Moling: [Ten o’clock?]

Jian Hang: [Mm.]

It was a little past nine in the morning, and she hasn’t even arrived in Suzhou yet, but they’re already planning to make a phone call that evening.

Marriage First, Love Later translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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