Life seemed to be getting back to normal. Qi returned to work at TTT Group, and Weiwei started applying for jobs.
"How did you find getting back to the office?" Weiwei asked Qi.
I'm sure people are gossiping behind your back about your firing and now return. I wish I could do something about it – but who can help with that!
"It was uneventful," Qi shrugged.
"Everyone is treating you the same as before?"
He chuckled. "I'm sure they wonder, but no one has asked me or mentioned anything about the Lántiān ordeal, if that's what you mean."
Of course, they would never do it to your face.
"Yes," she nodded. "That's what I meant. I'm worried things could be unpleasant to you."
Qi came closer and caressed her face with a palm of his hand. "Thank you for worrying about me. But I wouldn't expect anything else. Do you think people are ever genuine with someone in my position?"
"I would be," said Weiwei.
Qi smiled. "I know you would. That's why you're special. You're the one and only." He kissed Weiwei softly and tenderly.
It's sad that I'd be the only one to be honest with you. How difficult your job and life must be! Is my life going to be as difficult from now on?
Weiwei wrapped her arms around Qi. She felt a little sad.
Until now, people were mostly rude to me, and they meant it. Are they going to be outwardly nice to me now but hate me on the inside? I think I'd prefer the way people treated me before. At least, I knew it was genuine. Will I be able to trust anyone in the future?
Weiwei looked up at Qi.
"My poor Vice President," she said. "You must've been so lonely. Don't hold things inside you. I'm always here to listen to you and support you."
"I will," he whispered. "But I don't want you to worry about me too much. I'm used to it. I can handle it."
Weiwei shook her head. "You don't have to tell me everything. But I will worry, if you tell me nothing."
Qi patted her hair. "What would you like to know?"
She buried her face in his chest, her favorite hiding spot in the whole world. "Nothing in particular. I just want to hear a little about your day and know that no one caused you any trouble."
He cradled her in his arms and rocked her gently side-to-side, like a child. "My sweet, sweet Weiwei. My job is deal with problems that others are causing. What else would I do all day?"
"For example?"
"Well, the latest trouble is a bit of unrest among the main investors," he said. "I had to meet with some of them and calm them down as best I could."
"What are they unhappy about?" asked Weiwei, her eyes still closed and head rubbing slowly against his shirt.
"You remember that round of funding I closed when I travelled abroad? It saved the company from financial difficulties, but it also diluted existing investors' share in the business. So now that TTT's stock is set to grow again, they want a bigger portion of the pie."
Weiwei processed this. "So they ran for cover when things were tough, but now they don't want to share with someone who helped save their investment?"
"Exactly," Qi kissed her hair. "You should be on the board of directors. I think you'd be able to convince them far better than I could."
Weiwei let out a deep sigh. "Don't even joke about it. I hope I'd never have to deal with these kinds of problems." She cuddled with him for a while, trying to relax. But she couldn't drive away the gnawing concern. "When you say unrest, how serious is it?"
"They're going to bring it up at the board meeting this week," said Qi. "They'll try to cancel the funding agreement I signed."
They will do what?
Weiwei sprang up. "Cancel the agreement you signed? Is that even possible?"
Qi tried to calm her down with a confident smile. "Please take it easy. Theoretically, it's possible, but the penalties would be very severe. So I'm certain it won't come to that. I had lunch with one of our big investors, a son of a grandfather's old friend. He told me about the plan. I believe we have enough votes to counter it – that is unless Ms. Wu votes otherwise."
Oh no, not Ms. Wu again! Whenever her name is mentioned, I know that trouble isn't far behind!
"How can you be sure?" asked Weiwei cautiously. "Isn't she still upset with you? What if she's looking for revenge?"
Qi nodded. "She probably does. But it wouldn't benefit her to harm the business that is source of her livelihood."
"I hope you're right," said Weiwei, unconvinced and now deeply worried. "Please, please, be careful."
They sat for a long while in silence, Weiwei wrapped in Qi's embrace, and growing anxiety palpable in the luxurious apartment at 15 Rose Lane.