I made telephone calls to He Zi and my mother separately and told them to buy XQ stocks with their spare cash.  He Zi asked me why......was it because XQ ran into problems and needed help? 

I answered.  "Don’t worry.  As long as you buy, you will definitely make a profit."

This was not what I said, but what Jiang Li had told me.  At first, I thought that buying XQ stocks was equivalent to helping XQ but specifically why I could not explain.  Anyway, all this would be broadcasted on TV.   Later, Jiang Li explained to me.  XQ stocks were good investments as the profits earned would be equivalent to the amount invested.  I asked him why and he replied that XQ stocks were undervalued at the moment and if the stocks were bought now at low prices, no one would suffer any losses.  Later when Ai Rui frantically starts to absorb XQ stocks, the stock prices would then shoot up.   At that time, the share price would surely be very high and therefore, investing now would certainly earn a good profit.

I sighed as I contacted all my friends and relatives while Jiang Li was very calm and relaxed.  He was about to lose XQ and he still had the heart to help others benefit from this………….

 

                              ***#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#***

 

Today, Jiang Li suddenly asked me some absurd questions.  He said.  "Out of those high-level executives that I often meet with, who always like to talk to you?"

I thought for a moment and replied.  "The one with the little beard."

Jiang Li asked again.  "What type of questions does he ask you?"

I replied.  "I don’t understand most of the questions."

Jiang Li smiled and stroked my head.  Then he said with confidence.  "He is the spy."

I was puzzled.  "Ah?"

Jiang Li explained.  "These days XQ put a cap on all important information and unable to sit still, he tried to pry information from you."

I asked foolishly.  "Then, why didn’t he try to get information from you?"  Once I said this, I felt I was mentally retarded.  With such thick-skin and even if he is penniless, Jiang Li can still pretend to be wealthy.  Little Beard must be afraid of being fooled by Jiang Li.

Sure enough, he replied.  "He is only trying to 'pinch soft persimmon'*." (Trying to get something from someone that is easy to bully)

Although the 'soft persimmon' he said made me grievous but I admit I am really a soft persimmon ……..but when I thought of a spy trying all day to pry information from me, I could not help but break out in cold sweat.  I said.  "Jiang Li, are you not afraid that I would leak out your business secrets?"

He calmly replied.  "Although you are silly, you are not so naïve."

After thinking for a while, I felt it was also correct.  Little Beard had asked me a lot of strange questions, whether directly or indirectly or misleading, I had always said I did not know.  Since Jiang Li did not inform him, I also did not have the right to tell him.  Thinking about this, Little Beard was very suspicious.  Looking at Jiang Li, now that he trusted me, I felt touched and so laughingly I said.  "Jiang Li, you are really good."

Jiang Li smiled.  "Really?"

"Mm…."  I nodded my head.

JL:  "Then give me a kiss."

Me:  "….."

Please!  Your company is almost going to be taken over, can you at least show some anxiety?…….

 

                              ***#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#***

 

Today after work, we did not go straight home and instead we went out to have dinner with my father.  My father had migrated to Australia and he was back for a visit.  He said he missed us and wanted to have dinner with us.  Initially, I thought Jiang Li would be tired due to the XQ problem and would refuse to attend the dinner.  But I did not expect him to readily agree to the dinner appointment.

I sighed.  This is really the case of 'the emperor is not anxious but the eunuch is'* and I am the eunuch!  (The person involved is not anxious to deal with the matter but the people around him are anxiously thinking of ways to settle the matter.)

We talked to my father for a while and then he asked about the XQ's problem.  He had heard news of XQ and Ai Rui's tussle.

Jiang Li put some food in my father's bowl whilst he explained to my father about XQ's problem and said.  "Don’t worry.  We can settle the problem."

My father was worried and asked.  "Do you need help?  Do you need funds?"

Jiang Li shook his head.  "No.  I took a loan from the bank.  It's enough."

I interrupted.  "Jiang Li, so your money was borrowed from the bank?"

"Shhh……"  He gave me a mysterious smile and said.  "No one in the company knows except me."

I understood.  I knew about the spy in the company and Little Beard was only one of the few.  Of course, he would not let others know of such important company secrets, but I was sure the banks would have heard news of XQ's acquisition.  I was curious why the bank was still willing to lend money to him.

I asked Jiang Li the question that was bothering me and he laughingly answered me that as long as the bank benefits, of course, they would give out the loan.

I could not figure out the benefits of the bank and in the end, I was too lazy to think.  But I still think that borrowing money was not good. 

Jiang Li cunningly said.  "You will not understand this.  If XQ unfortunately, falls into the hands of Ai Rui……Ai Rui will have to be responsible for XQ's debt.  Borrowing money without the need to settle the loan is not a situation that can be encountered every day."

Finally, I understood.  Jiang Li's tactic was typically 'killing two birds with one stone'.  On one hand, the borrowed funds from the Bank could be used to fend off Ai Rui and once the plan failed then Jiang Li would have already spent the money.  XQ's account would then have a large debt which Ai Rui had to be responsible once they take over XQ.  Naturally, since Ai Rui was responsible for XQ's debt, then it would be a situation of ‘a woman bringing her children along when she remarries’* (It means a troubled company bringing along its problems to the new owner.)  Jiang Li's tactic was …….'if feasible we will fight, if not I will withdraw to make you a scapegoat'.

I wipe my sweat.......Jiang Li you are too insidious!

Suddenly my father said.  "Jiang Li, in fact, you don’t need to borrow from the bank.  I have some money that you can make use of."

I said.  "Dad, how much money do you have?  Actually, you can buy XQ stock and earn a profit."

My father paused and replied.  "There should be a few hundred million.  I am not sure, as I have spent quite a lot recently."

I nearly choked.  You are only a working-class and you have been a boiler repairman for half your life, where did the millions come from?

My dad told me seriously.  "Girl, I am telling the truth.  Your father, I, mysteriously inherited a legacy from abroad some time ago and it is a large sum."

I was shocked by his words and said.  "Really…….really?"

My father nodded his head to confirm it was the truth.

I sighed.  This world is truly amazing, even my father is a billionaire.  I said.  "Dad, invest in XQ stock since you have the money.  If you don’t invest, it would be a pity."

Jiang Li shook his head and said.  "Dad, don’t buy XQ stock.  Instead, buy Ai Rui stock."

I stared at Jiang Li.  "Are you crazy?"

He shook his head and said.  "I am not crazy……Dad, you don’t mind making more money, right?"

My father shook his head vigorously.  "Of course not.  Who doesn’t want to make more money?"

JL:   "Alright then.  Later Ai Rui stock price may fall and when it falls to ten dollars and below, you buy-in.  Invest whatever amount you can afford and of course, the bigger the amount, the better.   If some major shareholders of Ai Rui come looking for you, so much the better."

I really did not understand what Jiang Li was planning and gave him questioning looks.  He patted my shoulder and said.  "Don’t worry.  I have a sense of proportion."

After thinking for a while, I told myself that Jiang Li was the type of person who would plan everything meticulously and wait for his opponent to fall into his trap.  I should have full trust in him.

It was quite late when dinner was finally over and my father gave me a hug before he left.  Suddenly I realized that his arms were not as strong as before and he did not seem to be as tall as before.  I sighed.  Had I grown up or because he was getting older?

Suddenly I felt a little sad.

 

                              ***#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#***

 

Very quickly Ai Rui launched their attack just as Jiang Li had expected.  They raised their buying price to absorb XQ stocks and several shareholders from the XQ's board were bought out by Ai Rui.  I was really worried for Jiang Li.

Ai Rui's strong backing was Xue Hong's father, who had not made an appearance yet.  According to Jiang Li, maybe he had thought that XQ did not have the resistance ability or power and if that was the case, then this matter would be easier to handle.

To tell the truth, I was not clear about Jiang Li's plan.  Later his assistant explained to me but I felt that his explanation was a bit exaggerated. 

According to him….. it was like Jiang Li was singing an opera with all thirty-six chapters of Art of War by Sun Tzu* in one go. (Ancient Chinese art of war written 500+ years ago)  Later, I related his words to Jiang Li and Jiang Li refuted, saying that his assistant was talking nonsense.

Although his assistant's credibility was not high, but when he said 'counter attack' and 'Chencang darkness*' (Hidden intention under the surface of action), at least I understood a little bit. 

This will not be mention for the time being.  Let's talk about the current situation. 

Recently, XQ stocks price had increased tremendously over several days and with such great increases, it made me anxious.  Although Jiang Li had told me not to worry, Ai Rui seemed very aggressive……..

Sure enough, not long after that, the things that I was worried about did happen.

That day, Ai Rui publicly announced that they had garnered a 25% stake in XQ.  Jiang Li saw the news and without lifting his eyelids, he said.  "So…….they can only obtain this much."

I asked Jiang Li.  "Then how much do you have?"

He replied.  "Twenty."

I was in confusion.  "How much……how many?"

He answered me clearly.  "Twenty percent."

I froze. 

What is the concept of 20%?  They are holding 25% and you are only holding 20%.  Does that mean XQ already belong to Ai Rui?

I swallowed and even my voice had changed.  "That…….that…….."

Jiang Li helped me to finish the sentence.  "XQ is now a subsidiary of Ai Rui."

Suddenly I had nothing to say.  My heart felt like it was blocked as my eyes turned red and I fought to hold back my tears.

Jiang Li stroked my head and laughed.  "Why are you so anxious?  I am only temporarily putting XQ in Ai Rui's hands."

I blinked at him. 

Do you have a rescue plan?

Jiang Li cunningly smiled at me and said.  "Otherwise, who will help me repay my debt?"

Me:   "….."

Jiang Li, you are too cunning!

But I still did not feel at ease.  After all, Ai Rui had obtained 25% and if Jiang Li really wanted to make a comeback, would it really be so easy?

He could see that I was doubtful and said.  "Don’t worry.  There is still 10% of XQ's shares that are missing."

Me:   "Missing…….missing?" 

Jiang Li, can you please don’t make things so mysterious all the time?

Jiang Li nodded and replied.  "In Ai Rui and other people's eyes, this 10% is considered missing and unknown.  When I first formed this company, I had a partner and he held 10% of the shares.  Later he lost interest in the business and asked me to help him secretly sell off his shares.  Now, this guy is traveling around the world and just went to Africa.  A few days ago, he called me and said he was bitten by a lion……."

I wiped my sweat.  "This man……is very interesting……but Jiang Li, who did you transfer his shares to?"

He looked at me and said.  "I transferred them to you."

Me:  "….."

I swallowed.  "When was that?"

Jiang Li pretended to think back, then replied.  "Seems like not long after we married."

I continued to sweat.  "That…..that time, you trusted me?"

He honestly answered.  "If we were to divorce I would have given the shares to you as compensation."

Jiang Li, you are really very kind. 

But the word 'divorce' made me angry and I glared at him.

Laughing, he embraced me and kissed me then he said.  "Guan Xiao Yan, I really like you this way."

I turned my face away and ignored him.

Suddenly he said.  "I wonder who was the one who initially clamored for a divorce."

I heard him and immediately felt ashamed.  To please him, I put my arms around his neck and kissed him fiercely.

My gesture made him very happy.  He lifted my face and kissed me hard on my lips.  While kissing me, he slipped his hand unceremoniously under my clothes and placed it on my waist for a while before he started to move his hand upwards.

He kissed me until I felt dizzy but I still had a trace of awareness.  I knew where we were and so I did not hesitate to push away his hands.

But he kept coming back and I kept pushing………

I turned my face sideways and breathlessly said.  "Jiang Li, this is your office."

He chased after my lips and while kissing my lips, he mumbled.  "What about it?"

What do you mean by 'what about it'?   

I weakly repeated.  "This is your office!" 

The office is for doing your office work and not for making XXOO…….

He slowly put on a very mesmerizing smile and said.  "That is good, we can always try it here."

Me:   "….."

Jiang Li, you are too wicked.  (>_<)

                                                                              

                              ***#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#***

 

Later, whilst still in his office and after he had nibbled all over me again and again, he probably felt he had acted a little overboard, he hugged me in his arm, patted my back and comforted me. 

"It's alright.  This is only office romance.  It's normal."

I blushed and buried my head in his arms while my heart silently shed tears. 

This is definitely not office romance, this is clearly an office illicit affair……