From Runaway Bride to Global Queen

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: No Need to Go to the Office Anymore

The Tian City bidding meeting ended, and after the celebration banquet, Qiao Yi and her group returned to Capital City.

As soon as Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin landed, they were picked up by Qiao Benqing and taken back to the Qiao Family home.

Lu Yanchuan did not object, saying he would come to pick up Qiao Yi in the evening before leaving, but Lu Ming wanted to go with Qiao Xin to the Qiao Family home, only to have his request rejected by Qiao Benqing with an excuse.

Sitting in the back seat, Qiao Benqing had Qiao Xin sitting next to him, rigid all over. Qiao Yi, not wanting to sit with Qiao Xin, tossed the driver to the passenger seat and drove home herself.

All the way, Qiao Benqing did not utter a word. In contrast, Qiao Yi asked a few questions about Zhao Wenjing and hence exchanged a few words with Qiao Benqing.

Qiao Xin was extremely nervous, while Qiao Yi didn’t have any psychological burden at all; she immediately took the gifts she brought back for Zhao Wenjing to find her upon getting out of the car.

...

“Come to the study with me.”

Qiao Xin was about to leave too, but was called back by Qiao Benqing. Reluctantly, she shuffled her steps and followed him into the study.

Zhao Wenjing looked a bit worriedly at Qiao Xin, but was dragged back to the room by Qiao Yi.

“Mom, look, this is the specialty from Tian City that I queued for a long time to buy! And I also bought you clothes and shoes, try them quickly!”

Qiao Benqing entered the study and sat down behind the desk, waiting for Qiao Xin to come in and close the door. Suppressing his anger, he instructed her to sit beside him.

“Let’s talk about the bidding meeting. Was it you who switched the bidding documents, helping the Qiao Family secure this project?”

Qiao Xin’s heart thumped nervously, and she nodded, biting her lip.

Qiao Benqing, who already knew the process, was just asking symbolically. Seeing Qiao Xin honestly admit it, some of his anger dissipated.

“This time, the fault is not entirely yours. However, why did you secretly switch the bidding documents that Yiyi prepared?”

Qiao Benqing did not reveal his true thoughts to Qiao Xin; she could understand the reasons herself—it was merely out of fear that she couldn’t control her emotions and give the game away.

This error was not entirely on Qiao Xin; both Qiao Benqing and Qiao Yi also bore some responsibility.

However, no matter the reason, switching the bidding documents last minute is absolutely intolerable!

“I… I reviewed Qiao Yi’s bidding document and felt that it wouldn’t win the project, so I switched it on my own.”

There was nothing to deny now, the fact was right before her, and it was her who brought it up. There was no connection to Qiao Yi at all. Now that Qiao Benqing asked, her honest response might, at most, be criticized for trying to steal the limelight.

If she dared to hide it or shirk the responsibility, then Qiao Benqing’s fury would be more than she could bear!

After hearing Qiao Xin’s words, Qiao Benqing sighed, looking somewhat disappointed.

“You are impulsive and not steady. I thought placing you in a basic position for a few years could temper your personality, but it seems you haven’t changed. Well, don’t go to the company these few days, take a good rest for a while.”

Qiao Xin didn’t care about going to the company or not; after all, she was a daughter of the Qiao Family. Even if she knew nothing, she still had a share in the family assets.

“Okay, I understand.”

Qiao Benqing waved his hand, signaling Qiao Xin to leave and also asked her to call Qiao Yi in.

Qiao Yi was trying on clothes with Zhao Wenjing, and hearing from Qiao Xin that Qiao Benqing was calling her, she quickly went to the study.

Entering the study, she saw Qiao Benqing with his eyes closed, leaning on the chair in a very dejected manner.

“Dad….”

“Sit down.”

Qiao Yi looked at Qiao Benqing worriedly. His mood was only low for a moment, and soon he regained composure, sitting straight up and looking at Qiao Yi.

“Yiyi, aren’t you planning to join the company yet? With your sister like this, how can I be at ease in the future!”

“Dad, you are only in your forties this year, you still have decades ahead, and if things get worse, there is still your younger brother. Let him come back in a couple of years, and then you can teach him well.”

Speaking of her younger brother, both Qiao Yi and Qiao Benqing couldn’t help but laugh.

“Dad can still manage the company, but seeing your sister like this, it’s inevitable to worry a bit more.”

Having done something like changing the documents, Qiao Benqing had already dismissed any expectations for Qiao Xin in the company.

But after all, she is his eldest daughter, and Qiao Benqing still hopes that she will get better.

“How about letting her join Lu Group? Maybe being in a different company might help her improve?”

Qiao Yi’s suggestion tempted Qiao Benqing a bit, he thought for a while and then said, “Let her stay at home for a while, I’ll consider it.”

After talking with Qiao Benqing for a while, Qiao Yi remembered what Lu Yanchuan had said, and mentioned the problematic project in Tian City to Qiao Benqing.

“Yanchuan said, we should act on this project sooner and it would be best to leave it to Longjia and Tengxin, these two companies.”

Qiao Yi had mentioned it once over the phone before, but it was not clear, just enough for Qiao Benqing to take note of it.

This time, Qiao Benqing perked up, carefully asked about Lu Yanchuan’s thoughts.

Upon knowing that Lu Yanchuan intended to share the profits with Qiao Family, the clouds that had been looming over Qiao Benqing’s head these past few days finally cleared.

“Great, that’s fantastic!”

Qiao Benqing couldn’t sit still, pacing around the study several times before calming down.

“Don’t tell anyone about this, not even your mom and Xinxin, do you understand?”

Qiao Yi nodded, seeing Qiao Benqing’s reaction, he probably already knew some of it, just not as clearly as Yanchuan did.

“With Yanchuan cooperating with Qiao Family this time, it’s all thanks to you, Yiyi. I notice you don’t seem very enthusiastic about Yanchuan. No matter the reason for your marriage initially, now that you are husband and wife, you should get along well. If not loving, at least be respectful to each other.”

Qiao Benqing spoke sincerely—after all, he and Zhao Wenjing also got together for a business marriage, and now after more than twenty years, they were still loving.

Although Qiao Yi couldn’t choose someone she liked, Qiao Benqing still hoped she could live a happier life within the limited choices. @@novelbin@@

Qiao Yi felt a sourness in her nose, and gently hugged Qiao Benqing.

“I’ll live well, Dad, no need to worry.”

“Have you two finished talking? Dinner is ready, come down quickly to eat.”

Zhao Wenjing’s voice sounded outside the study, and Qiao Yi walked downstairs arm in arm with Qiao Benqing.

There was the sound of an engine outside the door, and just as Qiao Yi sat down at the dining table, she heard the aunt greeting Lu Yanchuan.

“How come you arrived so early?”

“I mentioned this afternoon that I would come pick you up to go home tonight.”

Lu Yanchuan nonchalantly took a seat next to Qiao Yi, causing Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing to laugh together, prompting the aunt to add another set of chopsticks and bowl.

Qiao Yi secretly rolled her eyes, thinking he came to freeload a meal, why make up so many excuses!

Lu Yanchuan’s unspoken bitterness.

He was supposed to have dinner at the Lu Mansion tonight, but Old Mr. Lu, seeing only him returning without Qiao Yi, immediately sent him back out, not even allowing him to eat, stating that he didn’t need to come back without bringing Qiao Yi.

Literally gained a daughter-in-law and forgot his son!