Chapter 64: Social Engagement
On her first day at work, she had barely finished surveying the company’s layout before being assigned a task.
Qiao Jiu had her own office, and her seat was still warm when the door opened.
This time, it was Liang Xiujin who walked in, exchanging pleasantries as he entered, “Settling in?”
Qiao Jiu teased him, “Not bad. I just keep wanting to cut fruit for everyone and arrange it nicely.”
Liang Xiujin laughed. “If you can still joke, that means you’re not nervous.”
Then he added, “We have a lunch engagement today. Come with me.”
Qiao Jiu was taken aback. “So soon? Is it a drinking affair?”
Liang Xiujin nodded. “The other party’s old man is quite the drinker. My assistant’s on leave today, or I wouldn’t have called you. You just got here, and normally you should be given time to adjust, but I have no choice.”
Qiao Jiu didn’t overthink it. “Alright. No adjustment needed for this sort of thing.”
Drinking was just that—open your mouth and do it. What was there to get used to?
Liang Xiujin made a sound of agreement. “I’ll wait for you downstairs at noon.”
With that, he left.
No one had assigned Qiao Jiu any work, so she idly flipped through the company’s bylaws and browsed the company’s backend system.
She wasted time until the lunch break, when Liang Xiucheng arrived to invite her to lunch.
Qiao Jiu stood up, tidying her desk. “I have to go out with your brother for business at noon. Didn’t he tell you?”
Liang Xiucheng really didn’t know. “You just got here and you’re already going out to socialize with him?”
Qiao Jiu nodded. “It shows how indispensable I am.”
Liang Xiucheng frowned. “You’re my assistant. How come he transferred you over without telling me?”
Qiao Jiu didn’t care much. “Maybe he didn’t have time.”
The two of them took the elevator down together, where Liang Xiujin was already waiting.
Liang Xiucheng went over first. “There’s a lunch meeting? Should I come?”
Liang Xiujin was a little surprised. “You’re not busy today? If so, you can join. It’s a good chance to introduce you to the client.”
Liang Xiucheng said, “I’m very free.”
The three of them got into Liang Xiujin’s car. As soon as the car started, Liang Xiujin spoke up, “Mom’s arranged a blind date for you this week. Did she tell you?”
“She did,” Liang Xiucheng replied. “I’m not going.”
Liang Xiujin was taken aback. “Not going? I heard the girl’s quite something, and she’s pretty.”
Liang Xiucheng turned to gaze out the window. “What does her background have to do with me? In this day and age, why bother with arranged marriages?”
“How is this an arranged marriage?” Liang Xiujin said. “No one’s forcing you to marry her. Just meet and see. What if you like her?”
“There’s no ‘what if’,” Liang Xiucheng replied. “I’m not interested.”
Qiao Jiu pursed her lips and said nothing. In her opinion, blind dates weren’t such a big deal—just another chance for yourself.
Even abroad, where ideas are more open, there are events like mixers, which are more or less the same as blind dates.
She didn’t understand why Liang Xiucheng was so averse to it.
Perhaps he thought it wasn’t the right setting, for Liang Xiujin didn’t push the topic any further.
The car drove to the restaurant. When they arrived, there were already people in the private room. Laughter and chatter spilled out as soon as the door opened.
Qiao Jiu followed Liang Xiujin inside.
The loudest voice belonged to the other company’s boss—a middle-aged man with a beer belly.
To Qiao Jiu’s surprise, he had also brought a woman—fiery red lips, alluring and seductive.
The middle-aged man was clearly surprised to see the three of them enter. He stood up, his eyes falling on Liang Xiucheng. “President Liang, and this is...?”
Liang Xiujin answered, “My younger brother. He just returned from abroad and has joined the company. He’ll be handling some of our business in the future. There’s a good chance he’ll be working with you, Mr. Zhu, so I brought him along to introduce you.”
Mr. Zhu made several acknowledging sounds, reaching out his hand. “Young Master Liang.”
Liang Xiucheng shook hands with him and exchanged a few pleasantries before sitting down.
Qiao Jiu wasn’t particularly sensitive to undercurrents, but she happened to catch an exchange of glances between Mr. Zhu and the woman beside him.
She understood immediately.
A beauty trap—a common tactic at banquets.
This woman was probably meant for Liang Xiujin at first.
But judging by Mr. Zhu’s expression just now, it seemed he had shifted his aim, planning to target Liang Xiucheng instead.
Sure enough, after a brief conversation, events unfolded just as Qiao Jiu had predicted.
The woman moved her chair closer to Liang Xiucheng, asking about his life abroad, how he was adjusting since his return, and what position he would hold in the company.
Qiao Jiu kept her expression neutral, as if she hadn’t noticed a thing.
Soon, the hot dishes arrived, and the wine was poured.
Qiao Jiu picked up her glass and stood first, addressing Mr. Zhu. “Mr. Zhu, it’s our first meeting, let me offer you a toast.”
Mr. Zhu’s gaze swept over her, and he stood up with a smile. Clinking glasses, he lifted Qiao Jiu’s wrist ever so slightly. “No need to be so formal. Here’s to a pleasant cooperation.”
His gesture appeared proper, but the pressure on Qiao Jiu’s wrist was unmistakable.
A seasoned player—he could keep up a perfect facade even when scheming beneath the surface.
In the past, Qiao Jiu had a temper. If anyone had taken such liberties with her, she’d have slapped them long ago.
But times were different, and she weighed her actions.
After finishing her drink and just as she sat down, the woman across from her stood, raising her glass to Liang Xiucheng and offering a stream of polite remarks.
Liang Xiucheng made a show of clinking glasses with her. Once seated, he turned to Qiao Jiu. “Don’t just drink, have something to eat or your stomach will feel uncomfortable.”
Liang Xiujin shot him a sidelong glance, and the woman across the table paused, surprised.
Qiao Jiu acknowledged him, “Thank you.”
She took a bite of food, but before she could swallow, the woman spoke again. “Miss Qiao, let me offer you a toast.”
Qiao Jiu paused, then raised her glass.
The woman downed her drink first, then looked at Qiao Jiu. “Miss Qiao, you look familiar. Have we met before?”
She asked again, “Have you always worked at the Liang Group?”
“No,” Liang Xiucheng replied before Qiao Jiu could speak. “She’s only been here a short while—you must be mistaken.”
The woman tilted her head, feigning contemplation. Her expression was just right, not at all affected—somehow, it was even a bit adorably honest. “Then I must be mistaken.”
Qiao Jiu said nothing. It was unlikely to be a case of mistaken identity; more probably, her past indiscretions had left an impression.
The toasts went round and round. Qiao Jiu, having come specifically to drink, didn’t hold back, focusing on Mr. Zhu and keeping his glass full.
Mr. Zhu could really hold his liquor. Qiao Jiu herself was feeling a bit dizzy before he finally started slurring his words.
The woman’s target was Liang Xiucheng and paid no attention to Mr. Zhu.
Liang Xiucheng’s tolerance wasn’t great. Even before the woman got serious, he was already struggling.
On the way over, Qiao Jiu had stopped to buy some hangover meds. Finding a moment, she slipped one to Liang Xiucheng under the table.
He understood and excused himself to the restroom.
But after Liang Xiucheng left, a long time went by and he still hadn’t returned.
For just taking a pill—or even a cigarette break—it should’ve been more than enough time.