008 President Xia Hosts a Dinner

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“Xia He never gave me any benefits,” Fang Qingye looked up at Zhao Wenjun and said, “It’s because you went too far. You can fight with Xia He all you want, but you can’t let innocent people take the fall for you!”

“Innocent people? You mean Zhang Qunying, right? I know if this matter isn’t resolved quickly, due to public opinion, the bank will make her the scapegoat—at the very least, she’ll be demoted, maybe even fired. But that’s only temporary!”

“You know very well the bank is not at fault here! If I become the branch manager, once the investigation is thorough, I will definitely call Zhang Qunying back to work... In about three months, or at most half a year, the truth will come to light. All of this was within my plan, but you ruined it!”

After Zhao Wenjun finished speaking, his eyes darkened with coldness.

Fang Qingye smiled faintly and said, “Manager Zhao, your scheming is impressive, but have you considered how much suffering and injustice Zhang Qunying will endure during those three to six months? How will her life and family be affected? What about how her relatives and friends will view her?”

“You say you’ve been treated unfairly, but is it fair to do this to Zhang Qunying? Why should she be the sacrifice in your power struggle? Is it just because she’s a minor player?”

Fang Qingye did not exaggerate.

He remembered how Zhang Qunying’s husband divorced her over this matter, breaking up a once happy family.

Zhao Wenjun was momentarily stunned and fell silent. The two sat in silence for a long while.

After finishing his drink, Zhao Wenjun stood up and said to Fang Qingye, “I’m full. I’m leaving now. Don’t forget to settle the bill.”

He turned and walked toward the door.

“Manager Zhao,” Fang Qingye suddenly called out to him.

“You’ve said so much today—aren’t you afraid I’ll report to Xia He or Manager Liu that you’re the one stirring trouble?”

“You won’t,” Zhao Wenjun smiled. “Besides, I’m resigning tomorrow. What difference does a report make to me?”

With that, he pushed open the door and left.

Only then did Fang Qingye notice through the window that it had started raining outside.

The rain grew heavier, soon painting the world in a watery haze.

He didn’t leave but quietly drank the last of his wine.

The next morning at work, news spread that Zhao Wenjun had resigned. He handed his resignation letter to Xia He’s desk, packed up his things, and left without looking back, reportedly heading to Shencheng.

Soon, Manager Zhang officially retired. The city branch sent someone to announce Xia He as the new manager of the Nanxin sub-branch, and promoted Su Ming, the former head of the Credit Department, to deputy manager. One deputy manager position remained vacant, still under consideration.

Xia He transferred Zhang Qunying from the Qianjin Savings Office to the sub-branch as head of the Credit Department, and Liu Na took over at Qianjin Savings.

A series of personnel changes took place within the sub-branch, but none involved Fang Qingye, who continued his internship in the Credit Department.

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That noon, after finishing lunch, Fang Qingye was just leaving the cafeteria to return to his office when his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed it was Xia He.

Her call?

Fang Qingye naturally had stored the phone numbers of his superiors, but they had never contacted each other personally. Even after the investigation into Tenglong Industrial was over, Xia He had not reached out to him privately. As for work, their paths rarely crossed; Xia He wouldn’t delegate tasks directly to someone at his level.

Why call now?

Fang Qingye thought for a moment and answered, saying, “Hello, Manager Xia.”

“Xiao Fang, are you free tonight? I’d like to invite you to dinner,” came Xia He’s pleasant voice through the receiver.

An invitation to dinner?

Fang Qingye immediately understood.

She wanted to thank him. Still, he asked, “Manager Xia, what’s the occasion for the treat?”

Xia He was straightforward: “To express my gratitude.”

“No need to be so formal, Manager Xia. I was just doing my duty.” Fang Qingye glanced upward instinctively toward the third floor, where the manager’s office was located.

Sure enough, he saw a figure inside looking out at him.

It was Xia He.

Her voice came again through the phone: “That won’t do. Besides, when Zhao Wenjun invited you to dinner, you happily accepted. Now it’s my turn, and you refuse? Don’t you care about your senior’s face?”

Fang Qingye laughed. “Alright then, where shall we go?”

“It’s inconvenient outside. Come to my place; I’ll cook a few dishes. I’ll send you the address.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Fang Qingye glanced at the third floor once more. The figure had vanished.

After work that afternoon, Fang Qingye packed up and rode his scooter out. But he didn’t go to Xia He’s place immediately; he went home first.

At home, he changed out of his uniform into a T-shirt and casual pants, then went to the living room to leave a note for his mother, saying he wouldn’t be home for dinner.

Unexpectedly, his mother, Zhang Meili, came in.

“Mom, I’m going out to dinner with a friend. You don’t need to make dinner for me tonight,” Fang Qingye said quickly.

“Again with Song Dahai?” Zhang Meili said as she hung her bag on the drying rack and began changing shoes.

“No, it’s Manager Xia inviting me.”

“Manager Xia? The young, beautiful female manager at your bank? She’s inviting you? How many people?”

“Just me.”

“Why? I thought Manager Xia was married already,” Zhang Meili looked up at him.

“What does her marital status have to do with inviting me?” Fang Qingye said, half annoyed, half amused, then explained briefly his involvement in the Tenglong deposit theft case and how he helped.

Zhang Meili laughed. “Wow... I didn’t know you had it in you. Didn’t you just waste your four years at university?”

Fang Qingye was speechless.

Mom, am I really that hopeless in your eyes?

Though, in truth, his university years were mostly spent gaming in internet cafes.

He was about to say something when his mother waved him off: “Go ahead, go ahead. Good, I don’t have to cook dinner.”

Alright, once again dismissed.

Fang Qingye said no more, went downstairs, mounted his scooter, and headed north out of the residential compound.

Xia He lived in Beifang Mingzhu Community, a newly built upscale neighborhood on the northern edge of the county, with high-rise buildings and two rows of villas.

Following the address she sent, Fang Qingye arrived at a high-rise in Zone B and took the elevator to the twelfth floor.

Xia He’s home was said to be in the provincial capital; this was just a temporary residence, bought by the branch for leaders whose families did not live in Nanxin.

After arriving, Fang Qingye rang the doorbell. Within minutes, the door opened.

Xia He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, her hair let down from its usual bun, adding an air of casual charm.

An apron was tied around her waist, giving her a touch of domestic grace.

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