Unfortunately, by the time Qin Qiu rushed out of the office, Su Ding was long gone. His injuries still needed treatment at the hospital.
Returning to the office, everyone stood up just as before, all with their heads bowed. Previously, they had hoped their silence would compel Qin Qiu to sacrifice herself for the company. Now, however, they were terrified, hoping she would be magnanimous and forgive their transgressions. Human selfishness was on full display.
Qin Qiu's gaze swept over everyone, finally fixing on Zhao Li.
Zhao Li's face was ashen, his limbs stiff. He had planned to use this opportunity to use Qin Qiu as a stepping stone to curry favor with Su Ding, soaring to a future of wealth and prosperity. Who would have thought that Qin Qiu had powerful figures backing her? Even the distinguished Mr. Su, Su Ding, had been thoroughly humbled.
"Chairman, I, I…" Zhao Li could no longer feel the pain in his head. He only wanted to explain himself, but after stammering "I" for several moments, he still couldn't form a complete sentence.
"Force me to accompany him? You expected me to have the spirit and awareness for self-sacrifice?" Qin Qiu said coldly.
Zhao Li was silent.
"And after your persuasion, I was supposed to agree to accompany him tonight?"
Zhao Li was silent.
"You traitorous bastard!"
BANG.
Zhao Li could no longer stand. He cast all propriety aside and fell to his knees before Qin Qiu, pleading pitifully, "Chairman, I was wrong! Please, let me off this one time."
"Pack your things and get out now!" Qin Qiu commanded.
"No, no! I have parents to support and children to feed! Chairman, I'm begging you…"
Qin Qiu scoffed. "If you continue to make a scene, I'll call security. Don't blame me for being merciless when that happens!"
Zhao Li's lips trembled, and he departed in disgrace.
The rest held their breath, not daring to move.
"Meeting dismissed!"
This single sentence allowed everyone's tense nerves to finally relax, and they scrambled to leave. She detested them, but if she fired everyone, how could such a large company continue to operate? Punishing Zhao Li was a matter of killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.
「In the Chairman's Office.」
In front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, Qin Qiu stood with her arms crossed, a pair of limpid, autumn-water eyes staring unfocused out the window. Everything that had happened today, from Elder Jin taking the initiative to treat her sister's illness to Su Ding's recent apology, all of it felt like a surreal dream. She sifted through her memories from top to bottom but couldn't recall any friend or relative with such immense power.
She took two deep breaths, shook her head, and stopped thinking about it. She believed that since it happened, the truth would one day come to light. It wouldn't be too late to properly thank the person then.
***
By the time Qin Qiu got home, it was already past seven in the evening. She was exhausted but also felt a sense of fulfillment.
If only there was someone who could help me, that would be perfect.
"You must be exhausted," Chen Yang greeted her with a broad smile, taking her bag. "Have some ginseng tea. The food is keeping warm in the pot; I'll go get it for you."
Qin Qiu, who had been in a good mood, felt her expression darken instantly. She couldn't understand what level of uselessness a man had to reach to be content with holing up at home and fussing over three meals a day. It was something that could be solved by hiring a maid for a few thousand a month, yet he seemed to think it was glorious.
Utterly pathetic.
Looking at the smile on Chen Yang's face, Qin Qiu felt disgusted and enraged. This man wasn't just useless; he was unbelievably thick-skinned. No matter how she made things difficult for him, he remained completely unfazed. He was like a stone in a latrine: foul and unyielding. Moreover, he would unconditionally obey any demand she made. He was a grown man, for crying out loud! Did he have no face, no dignity? Fine. In that case, I'll just have to raise the stakes again. There will surely come a day when you can't take it anymore.
Resolved, Qin Qiu took the ginseng tea from Chen Yang and ordered, "My feet are so sore. Bring me a basin of water to wash them."
"As you wish, my dear wife."
Chen Yang moved swiftly, quickly bringing a basin of water at the perfect temperature for a foot soak. He knelt to take off Qin Qiu's shoes but was barked at.
"Get away from me!"
Qin Qiu was on guard, her expression hostile. Although they had been officially married for two months, she had never given him a chance to get close, not even letting him touch her little finger.
Chen Yang wiped his hands on his apron, scratched his head, and gave a wry smile.
"Go. Bring me a small table and then bring the dinner over," Qin Qiu commanded again.
Luo Sulan came down the stairs and said coldly, "Bring me a basin of foot-washing water, too."
Compared to Qin Qiu, his mother-in-law, Luo Sulan, detested Chen Yang even more, a contempt that came from her very bones. She probably thought any random man off the street would be better than him.
"Right away!"
Chen Yang accepted the tasks without complaint. He first brought the basin of water for his mother-in-law, then moved a dining table over, and finally turned back toward the kitchen.
At eight o'clock sharp that evening, the programming on every television in every household, regardless of the channel, was suddenly interrupted by a news bulletin.
This was a special bulletin.
"After consultation with the Elders of the Inner Court, it has been decided to officially promote Commander-in-chief Chen Yang to the rank of Governor-in-Chief, bestowing upon him the title of Zhennan. Let us congratulate him!"
What followed was a summary of his achievements. He joined the battlefield at eighteen. Over the next ten years, he fought in hundreds of major battles and thousands of minor ones, never once tasting defeat.
In that instant, in every city and on every street, from the powerful and noble clans down to the common peddlers, countless people were glued to their screens. A feeling of solemn reverence rose in everyone's heart.
In this magnificent age, the nation is safe and its people prosperous, all because admirable people like you are shouldering the burdens for us all. With people like you, the nation is truly fortunate!
At this moment, wherever the mountains rose and rivers flowed, wherever the sun and moon shone, his name was known by all under heaven.
Chen Yang.
That name became the most brilliant presence in this empire, in this era. Though only a photograph of his back was shown—clad in military uniform, holding a sword to the sky—it was enough to take deep root in the hearts of the masses and solidify into a kind of faith.
「Inside the kitchen.」
Chen Yang stood ramrod straight, facing due south. He raised his right hand to his forehead and executed a perfect Martial Guard salute. In the rainforests, teeming with venomous insects and swarming with beasts, eight hundred thousand of his subordinates stood guard day and night.
It was because of them that Chen Yang stood where he was today, that there was a Nine Gates Admiral, the Zhennan Prince.
"This honor does not belong to me alone, but to all of us," Chen Yang said solemnly. "Once I have repaid my debt of gratitude, I will join you immediately!"