Chapter 72

The mornings in Switzerland were quiet, a vast expanse of white that could drain one's desire to speak.

Shen Qiancheng had slept soundly and now stood before the mirror in her pajamas, mechanically brushing her teeth and washing her face.

No toothpaste squeezed onto the brush for her. No pre-moistened washcloth waiting.

Shen Qiancheng brushed her teeth listlessly, placing the electric toothbrush on her front teeth and nodding her head up and down with its vibrations.

Just as her irritation peaked, a knock sounded at the door. Shen Qiancheng, mouth full of foam, barked, "Who is it?"

Sui Shi stood outside, holding breakfast, having knocked with a curled finger. She could sense her boss's growing impatience, on the verge of anger.

"President Shen, I've brought your breakfast."

A lowly employee suffering her superior's morning mood for no reason at all.

Shen Qiancheng's voice came through, mixed with the sound of water. Sui Shi opened the door and heard her say, "Just leave it on the coffee table. How's everyone's preparation going?"

Sui Shi took the food out of the paper bag: Borek Feta and a bottle of yogurt.

Shen Qiancheng had changed her clothes and sat down on the sofa.

Sui Shi glanced at her and smiled strangely.

Shen Qiancheng frowned in displeasure. "I asked about the preparation. What's with that smile? Are you that well prepared?"

Sui Shi snapped back to reality and quickly waved her hands. "No, no."

If she dared say to Shen Qiancheng's face, "President Shen, it's been a while since you've sat on a sofa, hasn't it?", she'd probably be sent to meet the client alone.

The drive was a bit long. Shen Qiancheng slept in the car and woke up just as they arrived at the research institute.

The silver-gray building gleamed in the sunlight, radiating an aura of rationality and science.

Shen Qiancheng's tongue pushed at her cheek. Today, she was meeting the most renowned experts in biopharmaceuticals in Switzerland, who served this fairly mediocre research institute.

A capable bird chooses its perch; Shen Qiancheng was confident she could close this deal.

The negotiation did not go as smoothly as she had anticipated. On pricing, the other side seemed to deliberately propose a price that Shen Qiancheng felt was disadvantageous to her.

As she left the institute, Shen Qiancheng pressed her twitching left eyelid.

Sui Shi noticed and handed her a wet wipe. "Are you all right, President Shen?"

Shen Qiancheng waved her off, then turned to see everyone looking disheartened. She clapped her hands to get their attention.

"March is the perfect time for skiing in Switzerland," Shen Qiancheng said, drawing out her words, intentionally pausing to gauge their reaction.

Sui Shi was the first to catch on, cheering, "Let's go skiing!"

During her undergraduate years in Switzerland, Shen Qiancheng had spent a good deal of time skiing, perhaps because of Liao Xue.

It was a sport of individualism.

Most in the group from home couldn't ski. Under the instructor's guidance, they struggled into ski suits and boots, poles in hand, looking like penguins with their arms spread, their black wings wide.

The instructor patiently explained the techniques and safety precautions.

Skiing is quite dangerous, so everyone listened earnestly. Keen-eyed Sui Shi raised a hand and pointed. "Isn't that President Shen!"

The other young women cheered, "So cool!"

Shen Qiancheng, in her ski gear, lowered her goggles and came alive. All the frustration from the institute she was determined to unleash on the slopes today.

A wine-red figure weaved through the vast snowy mountain like a nimble bird, carving across slope after slope sculpted by nature.

Her face and hair were full of wind; her nose and lungs filled with the crisp smell of snow.

Shen Qiancheng felt as if she had returned to her eighteen-year-old self.

Back then, she was truly carefree.

"Click—"

Shen Qiancheng's skis came to a stop, her gaze fixed on the camera in the person's hand before her.

It was the lively intern from before. Seeing Shen Qiancheng standing before her like a statue of Buddha, silent, the intern's breath caught for a second.

The intern swallowed nervously. "I... I'll delete it right away."

Shen Qiancheng said, "Let me see it first."

The intern, not knowing what Shen meant, handed over the camera with a stiff hand.

Against the pure white snow, a figure like a blazing fire, like a spirit of the snowfield, agile and graceful.

"Mm, not bad," Shen Qiancheng nodded, returning the camera to the intern.

The intern was stunned. What was "not bad" about?

In her confusion, Shen Qiancheng dropped into a horse stance and spread her arms wide, striking a pose.

"Take a few more shots of me. Make sure my face is visible."

The intern's mouth dropped open. What did this mean? She was supposed to take photos of President Shen?

The president also liked taking pretty photos like the other young women?

The intern lagged behind. Sui Shi, observant, noticed the girl was missing, turned back, and hadn't walked a few steps before she saw—

Shen Qiancheng... was striking various internet-famous poses, quite the show-off, while the intern snapped away with the camera.

Sui Shi felt as if her eyes had seen something unclean...

After steadying herself, Sui Shi opened her WeChat Moments and found something even more unclean.

Shen Qiancheng's Moments, previously empty except for lines and a dot, now had its first post: those flirty photos.

Sui Shi stabbed at her own eyes.

The ski resort closed at the scheduled time. Everyone had a thoroughly good time and took a cab back to the hotel.

Shen Qiancheng excitedly pulled out her phone. Her first post had accumulated rows of likes.

Including Liao Xue's avatar.

But—no one had messaged her.

Shen Qiancheng put her phone down, no longer in the mood to swipe.

###

The next day, when they went back to the institute to negotiate the price, Shen Qiancheng conceded 2% less than yesterday's price, but the other side raised it by another 5%.

Unsurprisingly, the negotiation broke down.

When Shen Qiancheng came out of the institute, the others were filled with uncertainty.

"President Shen, are we coming back tomorrow?" someone asked.

Shen Qiancheng raised an eyebrow, exhaled a turbid breath, and asked in reply, "Why not?"

That one sentence stood like an anchor in everyone's hearts.

If Shen Qiancheng said it could be done, it could be done—

That confidence was built on her exceptional ability.

No one had the energy to go to the ski resort this time. They took cabs straight back to the hotel.

It wasn't until Sui Shi closed the hotel room door behind her that Shen Qiancheng finally dropped the mask of composure she had been wearing.

Something was off, more than usual.

Shen Qiancheng's heart felt like a vast ocean, pounded by waves from all directions, with no clue where to turn.

Restless, she sought a stabilizing tonic—she made a video call.

The call connected, and a flour-covered hand moved away, revealing Liao Xue's fair, ethereal face, perfectly framed in the center of the phone screen.

It was mid-March at home, when temperatures fluctuated wildly, but it seemed they were on the rise. Liao Xue wore a shirt with a small V-neck, pale beige silk, sleeves casually rolled up, revealing an arm as fair as lotus root.

It was about nine in the evening back home. From the lighting, she was clearly in the kitchen.

Liao Xue had her hair in a low bun, hands moving as she made dumplings.

"Why are you making dumplings when I'm not home? It makes me want some that I can't have," Shen Qiancheng said, all irritation vanishing at the sight of Liao Xue's face, her heart lifting like it was taking flight.

Liao Xue continued wrapping without looking up. "I'll freeze some for you. You can just boil them in the pot whenever you want."

"I want fresh ones. My stomach's not good," Shen Qiancheng pressed her hand to her chest, feigning pain.

Liao Xue looked up, laughed at Shen Qiancheng's antics, then smiled. "When you come back, I'll make you fresh ones. I'll eat the old ones myself."

Shen Qiancheng was easily placated. "That's more like it."

Liao Xue's features seemed unreal under the kitchen lights, and her voice dropped low. "Make sure you eat breakfast in the morning and remember to close the window when you sleep at night."

Shen Qiancheng scratched her head. She hadn't called to listen to Liao Xue mother hen her.

Why did Liao Xue have to be like a mom, as if they were about to be separated for a long time?

Shen Qiancheng waved dismissively. "I've been eating breakfast here and I close the window too."

Her voice drew out long, a clear sign she was annoyed again.

Liao Xue gave an understanding smile. "You must be tired today. Go to sleep soon."

The call ended. They'd only chatted for a few minutes, but Shen Qiancheng felt as relaxed as if she'd had a hot bath, all smoothed over, wanting nothing more than to burrow into her blankets and sleep deeply.

Early morning is the worst time to call someone, but Shi Jianren had no such consideration.

"Hello?" Shen Qiancheng wasn't fully awake, her voice thick with sleep, barely recognizable.

Shi Jianren said impatiently, "Put Shen Qiancheng on the phone."

At the sound of Shi Jianren's disgusting voice, all of Shen Qiancheng's drowsiness fled.

She cleared her throat. "Father, with your packed schedule, to remember your daughter who's here in Switzerland working on deals for you—how rare."

Shen Qiancheng's flippant tone irritated Shi Jianren to no end. His tone turned mocking. "Two days and still not done?"

Shen Qiancheng rolled her eyes. Who closes a negotiation in less than a week or two?

When she said nothing, Shi Jianren thought he'd gotten the upper hand and commanded smugly, "If you don't close it today, you might as well resign from the board."

Same old trick. Do men think women's sense of morality and responsibility is that high?

Shen Qiancheng gave a bitter smile, listening to the hang-up tone from the phone.

Tsk. What was the point?

Trying to use a phone call to flaunt his authority, which only invited ridicule?

Fine, then. She'd close the deal at the highest price.

After all, the Shen Corporation wasn't hers yet.

Shi Jianren, so afraid of death he believed in early to bed and early to rise, could make calls at the crack of dawn. Liao Xue would surely answer too.

The phone buzzed, but no one picked up.

Optimistically, Shen Qiancheng thought, At least I called her tonight.

Wide awake now, she couldn't go back to sleep, so she got up and reviewed financial reports and stocks for a while.

Half an hour later, a knock came at her door.

Even though she knew it was impossible, for just a moment—what if it was the person who hadn't answered her call, flying thousands of miles to see her?

The door opened. Wang Shuai stood there, holding breakfast.

"President Shen, Sui Shi went to exchange francs."

Shen Qiancheng's smile fell instantly.

"Mm, got it."

Wang Shuai lingered, his expression troubled.

Shen Qiancheng understood and waved a hand. "Close the door first. What is it?"

Wang Shuai spoke deferentially. "President Shi called to say it must be settled today."

Shen Qiancheng's heart, which had tensed, relaxed. She'd thought it was something serious.

She nodded. "I see. Are you doubting I can close it today?"

This was the Shen Qiancheng everyone was used to—the one who kept people at arm's length. Wang Shuai's tongue tripped over itself.

"No, no, President Shen, that's not what I meant," he stammered. "The institute requested a change of venue. We have to leave earlier."

Shen Qiancheng's expression was unreadable. She picked up the paper bag, and inside was the same food as yesterday.

"Understood."

The weather in Switzerland was gloomy. Shen Qiancheng turned up her coat collar, the cold wind biting into her neck like a knife.

The headquarters of the affiliated company of the institute?

A flicker of mockery crossed Shen Qiancheng's eyes.

The headquarters was in the suburbs, more like a farm.

The man at the door spoke poor Chinese: "Hand over mobile phones and any communication devices."

Wang Shuai and the others exchanged uneasy glances. This was something out of a spy movie.

"What are you all standing around for?" Shen Qiancheng tossed her phone into the bin. "On someone else's turf, you follow their rules."

Seeing Shen Qiancheng hand over her device so easily, the others felt a sense of calm. Their phones and earphones went into the deep bin like fish diving into water.

Shen Qiancheng locked eyes with the man at the door, projecting all her pent-up anger and pressure onto him. "Can you open the door now?"

"Please." He opened the door and gestured inward.

The group had barely stepped inside before the heavy door slammed shut behind them.

It felt more and more like a movie. Shen Qiancheng led the way, the others following.

The hall they entered was suddenly illuminated. On the second floor, there was a large viewing platform, and by the staircase stood a white man.

Shen Qiancheng stood below, looking up, and suddenly smiled.

"What is this?"

"Someone doesn't want you to go back to China." The man held a glass of red wine, the thick, viscous liquid swirling as he moved.

Shi Jianren? What would he gain from that? Sabotaging the group's core project?

Shen Qiancheng spoke coolly and loudly. "So you're sure it's just me who shouldn't return?"

The other man nodded, his eyes showing admiration for Shen Qiancheng.

But that admiration, in her eyes, was a naked threat.

Shen Qiancheng tried to negotiate. "Let them go. They have nothing to do with this."

"No." The man's admiring look vanished. He couldn't appreciate such self-sacrifice for irrelevant people.

Shen Qiancheng felt the people behind her gasp softly, breathe shallowly, too afraid to say a word.

Sui Shi's heart was completely racing, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Shen Qiancheng—the only pillar of support.

That pillar took a step back, raised her striking slanted eyes, and said something none of them could understand.

The man clearly hesitated, then replied in the same incomprehensible language.

Only these two remained composed; the others stared blankly, not knowing where to look.

After a few exchanges, Shen Qiancheng suddenly smiled, then instructed the others, "You all go out. Don't you dare tip anyone off, got it?"

The staff were frozen with fear, staring with wide, terrified eyes, afraid to miss a single syllable she uttered.

"Why aren't you leaving?" Shen Qiancheng gave Sui Shi a push and whispered in her ear, "Report to Assistant Liao. Tell her I'm fine and that I'll be back to eat dumplings."

Sui Shi, dazed with fear, could only nod.

Shen Qiancheng wasn't afraid. The other side just wanted to delay her, not kill her.

Behind the single sofa on the first floor was a row of bookshelves, filled with all sorts of English books.

Shen Qiancheng sat down and began casually browsing the books on the shelf.

"Aren't you curious who it is?" the man teased.

Shen Qiancheng couldn't be bothered to look up, seemingly genuinely absorbed in the plot of a book. "If I asked, would you tell? If you wanted to say, would you need me to ask?"

"Clever," the man said in English, in praise.

Shen Qiancheng turned a page, modestly. "Not that clever. If I were, I wouldn't have been tricked like this."