"No password needed, just use this card. Everyone go for a physical check-up. If you're sick, get treated. If you're healthy, go to a hotel, rest for a few days, and then return to work when the weather improves."
"The reason I'm here today is purely by chance. You won't have such good luck in the future, so you must take care of yourselves during your time off. Industrial injuries would be a stain on the company's reputation. I don't want to see anyone get hurt."
The crowd: "…Oh."
They hadn't expected Zhan Bei Jue to be gone for so long, nor that he would make himself look so disheveled.
When the door opened and they saw him, drenched and covered in mud and water from his legs and feet, appearing at the doorway utterly exhausted, Ah Zhong was stunned.
"President Zhan, you…"
Zhan Bei Jue's expression was grim. He raised a hand to interrupt him, "Tomorrow morning, find a place to wash the car, disinfect it, and we're heading back to Gan City."
"Going back? What about the desert…"
"Not going anymore. We'll discuss it later."
"...Alright. Have you eaten? Do you want…"
"No. Close the door. You can go."
After recovering from their illnesses, the projects continued to move forward.
With the experience gained from before, the power supply to the remaining dozen townships in Wangquan County proceeded smoothly. Within half a month, Jiang Nan Fang had arranged the specific work content.
She then withdrew from the frontline work and began to cooperate with the television station and media invited by Vice President Gao to film corporate promotional videos, promote corporate culture, and build momentum for new product launches.
Another week passed. The promotional video was featured in a special report on the television station, and the company's official Weibo also posted a special promotional video and pictures of the Northwest project. With the preliminary work thoroughly completed, she returned to Nancheng.
Although it was a few days later than the estimated time, the entire process took just over a month. Returning to Nancheng, she felt a sense of familiar warmth, partly due to her child.
Because of her contributions to the new product promotion, Vice President Gao wanted to secure Jiang Nan Fang to stay in Nancheng and work for the electrical company. He then had someone arrange new accommodation for her.
As soon as they exited the airport, Jiang Nan Fang was taken directly to the new apartment.
Vice President Gao even called personally: "You've worked hard for over a month in the Northwest. Tonight, Qianjiangyu is hosting a banquet, and I'm treating everyone to a welcome dinner. You must attend. If you don't, you're not giving Old Gao any face." m..oΓg
She hadn't seen her child for a long time, and with prior arrangements, she could take her child away from Nancheng after finishing the new product promotion.
Jiang Nan Fang was impatient and had planned to go find Zhan Bei Jue to get her child that very day.
However, since Vice President Gao had extended the invitation and she had worked with her colleagues for over a month, and they had all treated her well, out of consideration for them, she had to postpone retrieving her child until tomorrow.
The apartment was very luxurious, fully equipped with furniture and appliances, ready for immediate occupancy.
Jiang Nan Fang went inside, took a refreshing bath, changed her clothes, and rested for an hour before leaving when the driver arrived downstairs to pick her up for dinner.
Qianjiangyu was a century-old, time-honored restaurant in Nancheng. Because it did not offer takeout and its dishes were high-end and exceptionally flavorful, it was difficult to get a reservation in the upper circles.
At this moment, not only was Jiang Nan Fang heading to Qianjiangyu for a meal, but Zhan Bei Jue, whom she hadn't seen in a while, was also making his way there.
Since returning from Gan City, his mother had arranged several more blind dates for him.
Zhan Bei Jue was in a bad mood and refused them all directly. It wasn't until two days ago that his mother told him that Uncle Gong's family had returned from Northern Europe and that he absolutely had to attend a dinner with them that evening, which finally made him willing to go out.
Uncle Gong's real name was Gong Dong Hai, and he was one of the few close friends his father had from university until his passing.
During Zhan Bei Jue's primary and secondary school years, the Gong family lived in Nancheng. It wasn't until his high school years that Uncle Gong, due to his excellent medical skills, was hired away, and the entire family relocated.
When his father was critically ill, Uncle Gong had personally treated him for a period. They had thought the Gong family would settle overseas permanently, so it was unexpected that they would return now.
Qianjiangyu's entire layout was designed in the style of a Chinese garden. The car stopped in the parking lot, and the driver waited. Zhan Bei Jue followed the road signs and walked alone towards the archway.
As he passed through another archway, his destination was just ahead. Unexpectedly, he encountered an acquaintance at this moment.
Jiang Nan Fang was chatting with Vice President Gao and her colleagues about their adventures in the Northwest, looking for the room they had booked. As they recounted the time they contracted malaria, everyone stopped laughing and roared with laughter.
Then, by chance, Li Gong's gaze shifted and saw Zhan Bei Jue behind them.
"You didn't see it then, President Zhan was completely soaked, his legs and feet covered in mud, looking exactly like someone planting rice in the fields… Huh, President Zhan, why are you here too?"
Everyone quickly stopped laughing and turned around. Zhan Bei Jue had appeared at some point.
However, the Zhan Bei Jue of today was impeccably dressed, tall and long-legged, with a stern face and an imposing aura, completely unlike the disheveled, approachable figure from that day.
Among a group of engineers in plaid shirts stood a professional woman in a white shirt and a black A-line skirt. It was difficult for Zhan Bei Jue not to notice Jiang Nan Fang.
She had recovered from her illness, and her complexion was not sallow but rosy and delicate. Her hair was tied back neatly in a bun at the nape of her neck.
With a touch of makeup and paired with this outfit, she appeared refreshed, elegant, and very pleasing to the eye.
Hmph, he hadn't expected her to be in such good shape after a month of toiling in the desert. It was clear she was living a pampered life, doted on by a group of men.
Seeing her living so well, his earlier worries were completely unnecessary. Zhan Bei Jue felt a sharp sting in his heart and couldn't help but feel a sense of irony.
She claimed to love her child and wanted to fight for custody. But what was the reality?
After a month apart, she hadn't called the child once.
Her first act after returning from her business trip wasn't to see her child but to come out and socialize with the men.
"No one is allowed to discuss their superiors behind their backs. Anyone who dares to mention the matter in Wangquan County again will be fired immediately."
"…"
After speaking, he glanced contemptuously at Jiang Nan Fang and walked straight past them.
The atmosphere became awkward for a moment. Watching him stride away with his imposing demeanor, Vice President Gao could only step in to lighten the mood.
"Ah, that's just President Zhan's temper. Let's go in and eat, eat."
After Jiang Nan Fang woke up in the hospital from her illness, she heard that Zhan Bei Jue had personally taken her to the hospital in the rain. She had initially thought that as a leader, he was someone who cared for his employees. Based on that alone, she had planned to be a bit more polite when negotiating with him upon her return.
She hadn't expected to be proven wrong so quickly.
Now it seemed that the reason he had saved her was merely a matter of convenience for him.
Conveniently resolving a potential industrial injury, he was still protecting Zhan's reputation.
He wasn't doing it for anyone else's benefit; it was entirely for himself.
It was a shame everyone thought he was a good person.
A shame she had felt so moved.
Tch.
Inside an archway was a courtyard, and within the courtyard were two private rooms. Zhan Bei Jue entered the Xiangjiang Pavilion on the west side, while the others went to the Wutong Courtyard on the east side.
As soon as the doors closed, separated by the vast courtyard, they were undisturbed by each other.
Zhan Bei Jue reached the entrance, and a server opened the door for him.
As he reached the doorway, he heard pleasant laughter from inside: "Aunt Zhou, you're as playful as ever. You have such a good mindset, no wonder time doesn't dare to mar your beauty."
"Beibei, you're so eloquent, you always say what an aunt likes to hear. Come, I like listening. Say a few more words."
Zhan Bei Jue walked in and saw two dignified beauties sitting behind an antique dining table, leaning their heads together and giggling.