Chapter 43: 043

Chapter 43

Xie Cheng had three cooperative partners visiting for negotiations today, but he made an effort to streamline the negotiation process and reduce the working hours. With half an hour left before the end of the workday, he returned to his office.

However, Lan Xi's seat was empty. He waited for a moment, but still, no one appeared.

"Where is Lan Xi?" Xie Cheng couldn't help asking Liang Di, clearing his throat. "I need to speak with her about some data on a report."

"Lan Xi? She was transferred to Cheng'an today," Liang Di replied with surprise. "The process is already underway, and she has already started working in the new position."

"Transferred?"

"Yes," Liang Di explained, "we have an internal mobility system, and ordinary employees like Lan Xi can apply for job rotation between positions at the same level in Chengxin and Cheng'an. As long as the receiving position is willing to accept, it's considered approved if you don't oppose within 12 hours after the OA application. Although the written transfer order takes two working days to be issued, the employment relationship is still with Chengxin for now. But generally, once the electronic process is completed, the person can go to work in Cheng'an..."

Xie Cheng opened his mobile OA and checked the regulations, feeling increasingly annoyed. "Who designed this flawed mechanism?"

Liang Di cautiously said, "It seems to be you..."

If Liang Di hadn't mentioned it, Xie Cheng wouldn't have to recall the motives behind it. In order to deal with the spies occasionally planted by Xie Jing, Xie Cheng had coordinated with Cheng'an and agreed to establish this mechanism: firstly, it provided a place to handle these spies; secondly, it saved the trouble of terminating labor contracts, as Chengxin would have to pay severance pay for that. Thirdly, Xie Jing had tacitly accepted this mechanism and publicized it as a good cooperative relationship between brother companies...

But he never expected that it would backfire now.

"What can she learn about the business by following Xie Yunfei? Isn't the treatment in Chengxin good enough?"

"It's not always about the treatment..." Liang Di hesitated for a moment but couldn't hold back. She hinted, "It's about people and finding happiness in work. In some heartbreaking situations, it's better to leave."

Xie Cheng was stunned. "What?"

"I heard that Lan Xi had a broken heart. She's been miserable recently, so she wanted a change of environment. She has been deeply hurt and is on the verge of giving up. She hasn't eaten anything for two days and nights! She looks so haggard, constantly holding her stomach, enduring the pain. You haven't seen it, General Manager. Her complexion is terrible. She used to be so energetic, but now she's as fragile as a piece of paper that could collapse with a gust of wind. She can't even open a bottle of mineral water!"

Liang Di intentionally said that, but in reality Lan Xi wasn't losing her appetite for food and drink. In fact, her appetite had improved. Of course, this must have been Lan Xi pretending to be strong, transforming her grief and anger into a craving for food. All of this was caused by Xie Cheng's actions. Liang Di felt sorry for Lan Xi, which is why she fabricated these details to indirectly convey them to Xie Cheng, hoping that he, if he had any conscience left, would feel guilty.

Sure enough, after hearing these words, Xie Cheng seemed somewhat conflicted. "Why does she have to harm her own body? How she torments herself always ends up affecting her own body..."

"There's nothing she can do. Who asked Lan Xi to have the misfortune of encountering a scumbag? Nowadays, many people appear to be decent gentlemen on the surface, but in reality, they are wolves in sheep's clothing!"

"...?"

Xie Cheng always felt that Liang Di's words held a deeper meaning, but he had no evidence. After all, when he looked into her eyes, Liang Di appeared genuinely natural and upright.

**

Being together with a lousy substitute, not eating or drinking, subjecting herself to abuse, and ultimately resorting to abortion and even starving to the point of a gastric perforation... Xie Cheng searched the internet and learned that this was indeed something many adolescent girls would do when they couldn't get what they wanted.

Even romantic novels specifically describe such stories, known as "youthful pain literature" or "abusive love." Some girls always fantasize about punishing and hurting themselves in order to make their ex-boyfriends feel sorry or repent. This behavior is particularly common among girls who lack love and care during their childhood, just like Lan Xi, who is a typical example of someone who didn't receive proper treatment growing up...

If Xie Cheng were unaware, it would be one thing, but now that he knew, he felt conflicted.

Just when he was hesitating whether to contact Lan Xi proactively, there was a commotion outside. Before long, the door of Xie Cheng's office was pushed open, and a girl rushed in.

Cao An followed closely behind her, somewhat helpless. "General Manager Xie, she says she must report something important right now. I couldn't stop her."

"General Manager Xie, I know this is impulsive, but there's something I've been thinking about, and I can only report it to you!"

Xie Cheng glanced at her. The girl who rushed in was named Zhang Wei, but according to her ID card, she wasn't an employee of Xie Cheng's company but rather of Xie An's.

"Although Xie Cheng and Xie An are considered sister companies on paper, they have separate specific operations. If you have an issue related to Xie An's work, you should report it to your direct supervisor at Xie An."

Zhang Wei bit her lip. "I know, but my direct supervisor has already left me with no options. He even tacitly approved everything that happened. I'm isolated at Xie An, and... and Lan Xi used to be your subordinate, so I thought maybe you could help her!"

Xie Cheng paused. "Lan Xi?"

"Yes!" Zhang Wei looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Lan Xi helped me! But... I'm afraid something will happen to her! She went to attend Wei Zhen's dinner party!"

Xie Cheng's face darkened.

Wei Zhen was someone Xie Cheng knew. In fact, Wei Zhen was originally one of Cheng's major clients, owning a shipping company that had a significant annual demand for database and meteorological software operations. They were a good-paying customer, making them a valuable client. However, after their initial collaboration, Xie Cheng decided to terminate the partnership.

The reason was simple: Wei Zhen had serious ethical issues. On multiple occasions during their collaborations, Wei Zhen harassed female employees at Xie Cheng's company. Especially during social gatherings, Wei Zhen not only made inappropriate comments but also made unwelcome physical advances, even going so far as to spike the drink of a female employee from Cheng Xin, attempting to take her to a hotel room.

It was only after this incident that Xie Cheng learned from his employees that Wei Zhen had a history of such behavior. He promptly reported the incident to the police and severed all ties with Wei Zhen. Although Wei Zhen managed to escape any legal consequences with the help of his legal team, a grudge was formed between the two.

"Why did Lan Xi go to Wei Zhen's gathering?"

Zhang Wei's eyes were still red, and she hurriedly explained, "Recently, General Yunfei suddenly came to the company, saying he wanted to make a big impact and achieve high KPIs. I don't know where he heard that Wei Zhen was a major client, but he insisted on developing this business source. Despite our attempts to communicate the issues with Wei Zhen, he ignored our concerns and even demanded that I attend tonight's reception. My supervisor is completely obedient to General Yunfei's decisions..."

As Xie Cheng looked at the female employee before him, he noticed that although she wasn't dressed in expensive clothing, she had a simple and refreshing appearance. While her looks couldn't compare to Lan Xi, she was still a pretty and delicate girl among the crowd. Her tear-filled eyes made her even more vulnerable, and Xie Cheng found it hard to ignore her.

"I'm not from here, and my family is in a small town. I have no relatives or connections here, and I don't have a boyfriend. General Yunfei insists that I attend, or else I'll be fired... I couldn't afford to lose this job, so I hid in the bathroom and cried. Lan Xi saw me and eventually offered to go in my place, asking me to keep it a secret."

Zhang Wei grew more guilty as she continued, "I was weak and avoided the situation, not saying anything in opposition. But now that Lan Xi has gone, the more I think about it, the more I realize it's not right. If something happens to Lan Xi, it will be because of me. I can't let her down."

She pleaded, looking at Xie Cheng, "I didn't dare to tell General Yunfei. If he found out, not only would he not support me, but he would also fire me. So, Mr. Cheng, considering Lan Xi used to be your employee, can you help save her?"

...

Xie Cheng quickly and directly asked Zhang Wei for more information. He learned that this gathering, ostensibly a business negotiation meeting, was actually attended only by Zhang Wei and her sleazy supervisor. The supervisor's role was not so much to host but to monitor and ensure that Zhang Wei accompanied the guests appropriately. It was even possible that they planned to intoxicate Zhang Wei and deliver her to Wei Zhen's bed.

Now, Lan Xi had replaced Zhang Wei, but the situation remained unchanged.

Xie Cheng felt a throbbing pain in his temples, but he had no choice but to ignore it.

Xie Cheng tried to convince himself that, considering the employment relationship, Lan Xi was still a new employee under Chengxin, and the process couldn't be rushed.

Moreover, although Zhang Wei had hinted that Wei Zhen would be handsy, Lan Xi had no idea of the extent of Wei Zhen's despicable methods. He would even go so far as to drug someone to achieve his goals, especially with a greasy boss like an old turtle. Lan Xi was straightforward and direct, not one to engage in convoluted tactics.

"I understand. I'll take care of this matter."

Without much thought, Xie Cheng grabbed his coat and headed straight to the hotel restaurant where Wei Zhen was.

---

Lan Xi didn't understand why Zhang Wei was so reluctant to come out and have a meal together. After all, the dishes at this hotel's restaurant were delicious, and Wei Zhen had said he would treat them, so there was no need to worry about money. Lan Xi simply indulged in the food.

Wei Zhen wasn't as terrifying as Zhang Wei had described. This bald middle-aged man, although initially surprised to see Lan Xi, quickly smiled warmly. "Yun Fei, you're really generous." He squinted his eyes slightly, looking at Lan Xi's face. "This collaboration, I'm sure it will succeed."

After speaking, he enthusiastically invited Lan Xi, "Come, eat something first. Order whatever you want, I'll pay. Don't call me Mr. Wei, just call me Brother Zhen! We'll have a few drinks with Brother Zhen later! As long as you're with Brother Zhen, you can have whatever you want in the future."

How could anyone say that Wei Zhen was a bad person!

Lan Xi felt that Zhang Wei must have some misunderstanding. But Lan Xi didn't hesitate and immediately started ordering dishes.

Naturally, Lan Xi's appetite was quite astonishing. Wei Zhen's expression became somewhat suspicious as he saw the increasing number of empty bowls in front of Lan Xi.

"Lan, aren't you worried about stomach discomfort or your figure changing when you eat so much?" He looked at Lan Xi's chest and abdomen with concern, and his eyes dimmed for a moment. "Do you have any secret to maintain such a good figure while eating like this?"

A secret?

Lan Xi certainly had one.

As she stuffed her mouth with food, she enthusiastically shared, "My secret is to do some exercise after eating well."

"What kind of exercise? Running, yoga, or swimming?"

What kind of exercise? Turning Xie Cheng's doorknob, helping Director Wu split the golden-threaded nanmu, shattering diamonds—these were Lan Xi's exercises. They required much more energy and physical strength than ordinary people walking or running. But obviously, these were not the kind of normal exercises that were worth mentioning.

According to the "Guidebook," if faced with a difficult question, one could use "you know" to evade it.

Lan Xi felt proud as she looked at Xie Cheng. "Did you hear that? He said himself that once we're in the room, I can do whatever I want to him, any position I desire."

She pointed at Wei Zhen, who was tied up on the bed. "I like the position of tying him up and beating him."

"He allowed me to beat him however I want. If I beat him like this, I won't have any legal responsibility, right?"

"No," Xie Cheng's expression turned grim, his lips tightly pursed. "He should bear the legal responsibility himself. After all, he admitted buying unknown drugs with stimulating effects and secretly putting them in other people's food."

Xie Cheng glanced at Lan Xi. "As for you, it is self-defense."

Wei Zhen, with his head beaten into a pig's head, remained silent.

Xie Cheng paused, rubbed his temples, and cleared his throat, driven by the principle of being sincere. "Perhaps there was a slight excessive force in self-defense."

At this point, he looked at Lan Xi with a sense of relief, as if he had survived a catastrophe.

Fortunately, although Lan Xi was heartbroken, she still had her sanity and wouldn't assault someone who rejected her.

However, considering her feelings towards herself, Lan Xi probably couldn't bear to harm herself.

Xie Cheng called Cao An to clean up the aftermath and then took Lan Xi away from the scene of the incident.

He took her for a leisurely walk along the lakeside path in the hotel garden, under the night sky. However, his heart rate, which was supposed to calm down, didn't seem to improve significantly. In this quiet environment, he was constantly worried that even his heartbeat would be exposed. After struggling to restrain himself for a long time, Xie Cheng finally regained his composure.

He needed to talk to Lan Xi about how to love herself.

Directly discussing emotions and Xie Yunfei wasn't a good choice, especially after what happened with Wei Zhen.

After giving it some thought, Xie Cheng decided to find a more approachable entry point.

"Are you feeling a bit uncomfortable in your stomach right now?"

Liang Di mentioned that Lan Xi hadn't eaten or drank anything for several days due to her heartbreak. And just now, she had exerted a lot of physical energy. At this moment, she was probably exhausted.

Xie Cheng's guess was correct, and Lan Xi raised her head, somewhat surprised. "How did you know?"

"I know." Xie Cheng pursed his lips and slowed his pace. "So, do you want me to accompany you for a meal?"

Lan Xi was indeed feeling uncomfortable in her stomach. She had eaten too much in her excitement tonight. Although she had "exercised" vigorously with Wei Zhen, her stomach was still having trouble digesting the food. If Xie Cheng hadn't mentioned it, Lan Xi might have been fine. But now, her previously mild stomach discomfort became more evident.

She waved her hand repeatedly, clutching her waist, and said, "No more, no more."

Little did she know that in Xie Cheng's eyes, everything looked completely different. Lan Xi, who had always loved to eat, was now pressing her stomach with a pained expression. Her voice sounded weak, almost like a wisp of air, and her complexion wasn't looking too good. It was clear that she was weak from hunger, and she could barely stand up straight.

"You have to eat something; otherwise, it's not good for your health. You can eat as much as you want, and I'll pay for it."

"I really can't eat anymore. I can't even take another bite; I'll throw up if I do!"

This was a fairly normal response, but for some reason, as soon as Lan Xi finished speaking, Xie Cheng's face revealed a hidden guilt and a more complex, difficult-to-read emotion.

He remained silent, pursing his lips for a moment before taking a deep breath and speaking again, "You'll develop stomach problems if you continue like this. Even if you're in a bad mood, life goes on, and you shouldn't neglect your own body so lightly."

After being hungry for several days, it wasn't advisable to suddenly indulge in a large meal. It had to be done gradually. If one refrained from eating and drinking for too long, it could even lead to anorexia nervosa, especially considering Lan Xi's lack of appetite and existing psychological factors. Xie Cheng thought for a moment and decided that it would be best to find a psychologist to address her post-breakup stress from its root cause.

He needed to find an opportunity to talk to her about it.

Xie Cheng glanced at Lan Xi and then averted his gaze, clearing his throat. "Oh, by the way, the team-building activity that we've been postponing will take place this weekend. We'll be going to the beach for a barbecue and there's also a seaside amusement park. It's a small benefit for the employees. Would you like to come?"

He paused for a moment and quickly added, "Mainly because your employment relationship is still under the umbrella of Chengxin, so when the administration calculates staff benefits, you're also included. And since the beach barbecue area is quite spacious, even if all the Chengxin people attend, there will still be plenty of seats available. So, for this team-building event, you can also bring your family and friends."

Yè Fēi Rán reminds you that "The Earthling's Guide to Conquest" updates first on [], remember [(().

Lan Xi's eyes lit up. "Really? I can bring my family and friends too?"

Xie Cheng nodded. "Yes."

"Then I'll join!"

However, Lan Xi quickly thought of a problem. "But by the weekend, my transfer process will definitely be complete, and I won't be under Chengxin anymore. Is it still appropriate for me to go to the beach team-building event?"

Xie Cheng cleared his throat and appeared magnanimous. "The venue is large enough, and I want it to be lively. So, having one more person like you won't be a problem. After all, you have worked here before, and you are familiar with your colleagues. You know that our employees have a good atmosphere."

"Of course, I understand your desire for a change of environment. Besides, it's natural for young people to explore different positions. But if you're not happy and find it difficult to adapt, and you want to come back, that's also possible. I won't judge you or create obstacles for you just because you were transferred. Even if you decide to come back after a few days, I can understand..."

Xie Cheng huffed coldly, "Especially considering the atmosphere in your new job doesn't seem great. Otherwise, why would you be entertaining such low-level clients like Wei Zhen? If I were your boss, I would never collaborate with someone like him just for the sake of money."

"Wei Zhen is alright. It's been a while since I've hit someone, and I've been itching for it. Luckily, he was there. Maybe it was specially arranged by President Yun Fei for me."

"... "

Lan Xi pondered for a moment and sincerely said, "And Xie Yunfei's salary is higher, and he has fewer responsibilities."

"That's why I don't want to come back," she concluded. "But I do want to attend the team-building activity by the seaside."

Although Xie Cheng was the one who initially invited Lan Xi, his current expression couldn't be described as particularly pleasant or welcoming. After a while, he seemed to be suppressing some emotions and made an effort to speak calmly, "Take some time to experience it for yourself. Some jobs may appear to offer more money and less work on the surface, but once you start doing them, you'll discover hidden costs and pressures. Chengxin doesn't engage in superficial projects to deceive people, unlike some companies and bosses who dig pits and wait for you to fall into them."

Rubbing his temples, Xie Cheng, as if trying to slow down his emotions, looked at Lan Xi again and said, "Let's not discuss these matters for now. It's getting late, and while I'm still here, is there anything else you need me to do?"

Lan Xi thought for a moment and suddenly remembered something, "We haven't paid the bill at the restaurant earlier. Originally, we agreed to put it on Wei Zhen's tab, but since he's inconvenienced now, would he refuse to pay?"

"I'll take care of it," Xie Cheng replied without hesitation. Even if Wei Zhen wanted to pay, he wouldn't allow it.

"Wait here for me and don't wander around."

After instructing Lan Xi, Xie Cheng obtained the table number from her and turned to enter the restaurant.

The server was very efficient, saying, "Sir, the bill for table Chapter 3 is here."

Xie Cheng took out his credit card, but just as he was about to hand it over to the server, she added with a smile, "... The total amount is 136,800 yuan, and we also charge a 16% service fee."

136,800 yuan?!

Xie Cheng froze, "Wasn't table Chapter 3 for three people? It was supposed to be under Wei Zhen's name. Did you make a mistake?"

"Oh, yes, it was indeed for three people. Here are the detailed itemized charges." The server paused for a moment and added, "That young lady ate like a professional foodie. She seemed like a big eater."

At this point, the server's eyes revealed a hint of envy. "But she's really beautiful, and she has a great figure."

"... "

Xie Cheng had lost interest in these matters. He took the bill and examined the breakdown of expenses.

Eighteen bowls of Ao Zao noodles, nine pig elbows, thirteen pieces of walnut pastry, twenty-seven squab, eight servings of mung bean soup, thirty-five lion's head meatballs...

He looked up, "Did that girl eat all of this?"

The server nodded, "Yes, sir. She's the most professional foodie I've ever seen. It's impressive!"

...

Liang Di mentioned that because of heartbreak, he had lost his appetite for food and tea.

What kind of heartbreak is this?!

Xie Cheng felt that in the entire universe, there was no one with a better appetite than Lan Xi!