429: Xi Ting's heart ached

Xi Ting's heart ached

Secretary Lin's gaze was frantic and she looked very anxious. What was there to be anxious about if he was merely leaving?1

Xi Ting looked her up and down.

Out of the blue, he said, "Secretary Lin, I think that you've worked in M Nation for too long. You've been in this position for too long too. Perhaps it's time for a change of environment."

Secretary Lin froze.

Xi Ting said, "Go report to the human resources department. You're going to Austria."

What…!!!

Secretary Lin felt as if her head had been dealt a heavy blow. She immediately went into a daze.

*

Amid the picturesque tranquility of a quaint water town, Qin Yan found herself immersed in a world of serenity and charm. Narrow cobblestone pathways wound their way between ancient wooden houses, their timeworn facades adorned with intricately carved details that whispered tales of bygone eras.

Qin Yan strolled leisurely along the water's edge, the rhythmic sounds of her footsteps blending harmoniously with the gentle lapping of the water against the stone embankments. 

As she explored, Qin Yan's eyes drank in the sights around her. Wooden bridges arched gracefully over the water, connecting one side of the town to the other. Scarlet-red lanterns, swaying gently in the breeze, hung from eaves and bridges, their vibrant hues mirrored in the placid waters below. Potted flowers of various colors adorned windowsills and balconies, their petals catching the sunlight like delicate gemstones.

A faint scent of freshly cooked delicacies wafted through the air, emanating from open-air cafes and food stalls nestled along the stone pathways. Qin Yan's senses were delighted by the aroma of steamed dumplings, sizzling street food, and the tantalizing perfume of freshly brewed tea. She couldn't resist the temptation and paused to savor the flavors of the local cuisine, her taste buds dancing with delight.

Finding a quiet spot by the water, Qin Yan settled onto a weathered wooden bench. She let her gaze drift across the tranquil scene—the ripples on the water's surface, the reflections of ancient architecture, and the delicate ripples created by a lone rowboat meandering lazily along the canal. The gentle swaying of willow branches completed the picturesque tableau, their delicate leaves casting playful shadows.

With a contented sigh, Qin Yan closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the soothing ambiance to envelop her. The melodic chirping of birds and the soft rustling of leaves provided a gentle symphony that merged seamlessly with the town's timeless beauty.

When she opened her eyes, Qin Yan found Xi Ting standing in front of her.

She said in surprise, "You… you… why are you here?"

Why had Xi Ting suddenly arrived now?

"You suddenly came here. How could I not come?" He spoke.

In the aftermath of her surprise, Qin Yan remembered that she had decided to go out to put herself in a better mood after getting angry with him.

She immediately pulled her face into a frown and took a step backward. She said, "What's wrong with me coming here? I am enjoying myself. Don't waste my time and don't interrupt me. Anyway, you might be busy working with your secretary."

She was so bitter…

Xi Ting looked at her and sighed, "Alright. I admit that I didn't think there was anything off about her in the past. But now, Secretary Lin has already been sent to Austria."

Sent to Austria? So soon? As expected, if there was anything wrong, Xi Ting would definitely be the first to take action. Thus, it was true that he had not believed Qin Yan before this and had thought that she was messing around.

When Qin Yan recalled what had happened, she still felt aggrieved, so for sure she was going to be stubborn for some time. One sentence like this from him could not succeed in cajoling her.

"No need. Isn't it better to keep such a capable assistant by your side? She will give her heart and soul to you and will definitely be loyal. It's such a shame to send her abroad." She huffed and huffed again before turning her head away.

"Yan Yan, I…"

"What? Have you realized it now? What happened when I had told you about it? You didn't believe me at all. You simply felt that I was a troublesome and sensitive woman. At the time, I truly thought that perhaps I had indeed been too troublesome and sensitive. I seemed like a bad woman who was keeping you bound to me. I was exactly like those women who clung to their men for no reason and had delusions about their own men getting snatched away by others."

Xi Ting's heart ached. So, this was how she had felt. He remained silent. He pursed his already-pursed lips even more tightly until they turned purple. Then, he released them.

He said briefly, "I'm sorry, Yan Yan."

Qin Yan said, "That's why I got angry. I was angry at myself. Had I really been too strict with you to the point where you left for the company? I was angry at myself because I had perhaps been in the wrong. Even you felt that I had gone overboard and you wanted to just persuade me to leave."

"Of course not. Cookie, you were not in the wrong for that. It's your right to exercise control over the people around me. You're my girlfriend. It's fine for you to have doubts about the women around me. Why would I find you troublesome because of this? Men who say that their partners interfere just for this reason feel guilty themselves. I won't. I find you very adorable when you do it. I mean it."

Qin Yan felt slightly aggrieved. She turned her head to look at him, "You should be grateful that I am not unreasonable. Since you have realized your mistake, I forgive you."

*

Preparations for the charity dinner had already ended. Qin Yan and Xi Ting alighted from the car together and looked at the streets of M Nation.

At the moment, the weather was a little chilly. Xi Ting draped her shawl over her shoulders before hooking their arms and walking inside with her.

They put down their stuff and walked into the hall.

Qin Yan saw some familiar faces who were also here for those M Nation activities. Since they were neighboring countries with M Nation being smaller, the two countries had many businesses together. Thus, some well-known C Nation businessmen were also here.

Upon seeing Xi Ting arrive, everyone came over to greet him.

"President Xi, you're here too," someone said.

Xi Ting smiled and gestured to Qin Yan beside him. "This is my girlfriend, Qin Yan."

That person hastily replied, "Miss Qin is really young and pretty. She's very compatible with President Xi."

Qin Yan thanked him politely and looked at Xi Ting. To think he intentionally mentioned her. Seriously…

That person chatted for a while before Xi Ting made an excuse and left.

Not long after, word started spreading that Xi Ting was really nice to his girlfriend, saying hello and then quickly introducing her as if he was afraid that nobody would know.

Another person came to greet Xi Ting. The man was also very surprised. "President Xi rarely comes to M Nation for such gatherings. Today must be our lucky day."

Xi Ting replied, "This time is also a coincidence."

"Oh yes, I heard that President Han from Bai Group will be coming too."

Upon hearing that, Xi Ting raised his head slightly and looked at the man. "Oh? Is that so?"

"He should be here any minute. He doesn't like to grace such events either. It's a coincidence that there's a charity gala tonight as he's passionate about charity. That is why he is coming."

"Oh. And he's not here yet?"

"Yes, yes, but he probably will be here soon. I just heard that he's already on his way."

Xi Ting smiled. He then tugged Qin Yan to his side and bent down to ask, "Do you want to eat anything? You didn't eat on the way here. Are you hungry?"

Qin Yan nodded, "My stomach has been growling the whole day. I want to eat some snacks over there."

"Come, let me get some for you."

The two of them held hands and walked away. 

From the moment Xi Ting came in, he became the center of attention in the entire hall. Many of the people behind were M Nation businessmen who did not know Xi Ting. As Xi Ting did not really come to M Nation, they were not familiar with him. Thus, seeing so many famous elite businessmen greet a young man submissively, they wondered who this man was. 

At that moment, someone suddenly announced that President Han had arrived.

Han Cheng was here.

Xi Ting looked up silently at everyone who was gazing at him.

He saw a tall man who was neither fat nor thin. He looked knightly as he walked from a distance. As he walked, he shook hands with people on the side. He seemed humble and polite, characteristics of a fine businessman. 

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