Changing her perspective, since Ke Teng was going to invest in Tongcheng, why not try and see if he would agree?
“I understand, Director. I’ll go back and study it thoroughly.”
Back at her desk, Jian Fei meticulously reviewed the documents, her mind racing with thoughts. She then sent Ke Teng a WeChat message.
After leaving Shangcheng, she hadn’t deleted Ke Teng. They just didn’t usually keep in touch. She didn’t know if he had deleted her.
She tried sending a comma, and to her surprise, it worked.
Ke Teng had just woken up and was lying in bed, texting on his phone when it vibrated.
He pulled out to see Jian Fei’s message.
Even though it was just a simple comma, he couldn’t help but smile and replied to her.
“What’s up?”
Jian Fei hadn’t expected him to reply so quickly.
Looking at her comma and his question, she felt a bit awkward.
Asking him for help right away seemed too transactional.
So, she made a rare gesture of generosity.
“I wanted to ask if you’re free today. I’d like to treat you to a meal.”
In all the time they’d known each other, it was the first time she had been so generous.
Before, when she lived at his place, she’d practically paid to drink a cup of his water.
Ke Teng sat up excitedly.
“Are you thanking me for saving your life yesterday?”
“Something like that. Are you free?”
“I’m always free for a meal, I just worry you don’t have enough money in your pocket.”
Jian Fei: “…If you know I don’t have money, don’t order anything too expensive.”
Ke Teng couldn’t help but burst out laughing on the phone.
Women all had a degree of vanity, didn't they? Why did she seem to have none?
She didn't even bother with polite pretense, which was so interesting.
“Are you going to treat me to a cup of instant noodles?”
“Something like that. Not instant noodles, but not anything too fancy either. I’ll treat you to some local noodles from our place. Do you want some?”
Having gotten used to refined cuisine, trying simple fare occasionally wasn’t a bad idea.
But Ke Teng was about to attend a meeting soon, and he didn’t know when it would end. Dinner would certainly be arranged.
“I’m not free today. When I am, I’ll find you.”
However, Jian Fei couldn’t wait.
This was just a regular administrative job, and opportunities to showcase her abilities were few.
If she didn’t catch this big fish now, it would be very, very difficult to get promoted or get a raise.
Her father was resting at home and would need to be in bed for at least two months, and her sister was already at the age of marriage.
She didn’t want to keep waiting indefinitely.
“Aren’t you free right now? Eating noodles won’t take much time.”
Unexpectedly, she was so persistent, seeming determined to meet him, Ke Teng felt inexplicably happy.
“Do you want to see me that much?”
Answering this question either way would be awkward, so Jian Fei chose not to.
“If you can come out, I’ll ask for leave from the director. Are you coming?”
The meeting was scheduled to start at 10:30 AM, and it was now 8:30 AM. Ke Teng thought for a moment.
“Where to?”
For the first time, Jian Fei let out a chuckle at her phone. She quickly sent an address and went to knock on the director’s door.
It was just an ordinary breakfast street, a common noodle shop.
Ke Teng, having experienced hardship himself, didn't find it unappealing. They each had a bowl of noodles and chatted while eating.
Jian Fei pushed the printed project proposal towards him.
“Take a look first. You mentioned you were coming for investment attraction, see if there’s anything here that might interest you.”
Ke Teng casually flipped through it while eating, showing little interest.
“Was your director talking about this yesterday?”
“Yes. This is a task assigned to our department by the hospital. If we don’t complete it, we won’t get any bonuses at the end of the year.”
“Jian Fei, yesterday you were indirectly crying poverty to me, and today you’re doing it directly. What is it? You want me to invest in it?”
“My being poor is a fact, you don’t need me to cry for you to know.”
Jian Fei was frank.
“I won’t take your money for nothing. Take a good look, this project of ours truly has its advantages and is a good opportunity to enhance your company’s image.”
“If you’re willing, we can consider it a collaboration, mutually beneficial. Please don’t look at me as if I’m begging you for a favor.”
It was the first time someone had phrased begging for a favor so refreshingly.
Ke Teng smiled again.
“But you know, I’m a businessman, a successful one. I’m only interested in big projects.”
“With your hospital’s poor conditions, how much can it enhance my image?”
His words left Jian Fei speechless.
To her, their hospital was already a very big and remarkable place, but in Ke Teng’s eyes…
“I was just saying, to see if there’s any possibility. If you’re not interested, then forget it.”
She took back the documents and lowered her head to continue eating her noodles.
Seeing her somewhat embarrassed by his words, Ke Teng felt a pang of sympathy.
“You know, I can’t quite figure you out. Sometimes you’re incredibly stubborn, never giving up until you achieve your goal, and other times you’re so easily discouraged.”
“If this is your job, and it’s very important to you, shouldn’t you at least try? You’re giving up just because I said I don’t want to look?”
After all, it involved money, and Jian Fei felt too embarrassed to say more, as if she were taking advantage of their acquaintance to guilt-trip him.
After a few seconds of silence, she sighed.
“You know what my major is, and you never expected me to be out here discussing something like this.”
“You’ve already said it’s no good, so it must be no good. I believe you. Anyway, if I can’t do it, the director will find a way. Forcing you to invest wouldn’t be right.”
Looking at her slightly awkward expression and her plump lips, Ke Teng suddenly felt an urge to pinch her.
“With such a negative attitude towards work, it seems unlikely you’ll be promoted or get a raise in the future.”
“Please don’t discourage me,” Jian Fei forced a smile.
“I’ve already realized that. With my personality and the nature of my work, there’s no hope of making big money. I should focus on a side hustle in my free time.”
“What kind of side hustle? Like before, being a private doctor for someone and living in their home to help manage their children?”
“That’s not impossible either. If you know any disobedient children like yourself, help me find some business.”
They looked at each other and couldn’t help but laugh.
“See, when it comes to your profession, you’re still confident and willing to fight for it. Why were you so pessimistic just now?”
Ke Teng comforted her.
“Alright, give me the stuff. I’ll take a good look at it when I get back.”
A flicker of surprise flashed in Jian Fei’s eyes.
“You don’t have to feel sorry for me or make decisions based on pity. I’m very clear about my personal and professional life; I will absolutely not guilt-trip you.”
“That’s good. I won’t be disappointed when I reject you.”
After finishing their meal and dropping her off, Ke Teng asked,
“When you get back, your leader will surely ask how the discussion went. What are you going to say?”
Jian Fei thought for a moment, “I’ll say you need to consider it.”
Silly.
Ke Teng took out a business card and gave it to her.
“Just say you didn’t meet me, give this card to him, and have him contact me.”
“Huh? You have two kinds of business cards?”
“Yes. Do you want to get promoted and get a raise?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Then go back and do as I say.”