Chapter 92: An Old Acquaintance

The next morning at work, there was a regular meeting that lasted a little over half an hour.

When it ended and everyone came out, the elevator nearby opened just then. Liang Xiujin, with his assistant and a group of people, stepped out.

Qiao Jiu glanced over. They looked like representatives from a company the firm was working with.

She did not think much of it. Holding the meeting summary in her hand, she discussed the issues raised during the meeting with Liang Xiucheng as they walked toward the office.

But after only a few steps, she sensed something was off and turned to look back.

The group had already stopped. Standing beside Liang Xiujin was an older man, staring at her with unusual focus.

Perhaps his gaze was too obvious, because Liang Xiucheng, standing next to Qiao Jiu, noticed as well. “You know them?”

Qiao Jiu took a breath. “No.”

Even she did not sound entirely certain. The face seemed vaguely familiar, but she truly could not remember who he was.

Liang Xiucheng lifted a hand to her shoulder and gently steered her into his office.

Once inside and the door was closed, Qiao Jiu was still frowning. “Which company are they from?”

Liang Xiucheng said, “This morning I heard my brother mention it in passing. They’re not from Yuncheng. They came over from Shencheng.”

Qiao Jiu hesitated. Then she probably really did not know them.

She did not know many people in business circles to begin with, and since she was not from the city, it was even less likely.

She did not dwell on it. She simply opened the meeting summary, went through everything from beginning to end with Liang Xiucheng, and then went back to reorganize it.

When she left Liang Xiucheng’s office, the corridor was already empty, so she returned to her own office.

She had just sat down and sorted out only a small portion of the notes when there was a knock at the door. Liang Xiujin’s assistant had come. “Qiao Jiu, President Liang wants you in the conference room.”

Qiao Jiu was slightly surprised. “Have the clients left?”

“Not yet,” the man said. “They seem to still be in the conference room. He probably has something to discuss with you.”

Qiao Jiu nodded and set aside what she was doing. “All right, I understand.”

She did not delay and went straight to the conference room. After knocking, she opened the door, and there sat the older man inside.

When he saw Qiao Jiu come in, he stood up at once. “Xiaojiu.”

Qiao Jiu blinked, a little stunned.

She closed the conference room door behind her and said a little awkwardly, “I’m sorry, and you are?”

The man let out an exclamation. “I’m your Uncle Liu. I used to drink with your father all the time. Don’t you remember?”

As he spoke, he walked over. Seeing that Qiao Jiu still had not fully reacted, he said, “Liu Changyong. Do you remember that name? When you were little, I used to come to your house often. Back then your father hadn’t yet made his fortune. Sometimes I would even buy groceries myself, go to your house to cook, and sit there drinking with your father until midnight.”

Qiao Jiu stared at him for a while, then suddenly understood. Memories flooded back. “Uncle Liu? So it really is you.”

“Of course it’s me,” he laughed heartily, looking her over from head to toe. “When I left Yuncheng, you were only this big.”

He held his hand out to indicate her height, barely reaching his thigh. “And now you’re such a grown young lady.”

They sat down beside the conference table. Liu Changyong asked, “How has your father been these past couple of years? After I left Yuncheng, I lost my phone and changed numbers. I lost contact with a lot of people.”

Qiao Jiu’s gaze flickered, and she glanced at Liang Xiujin, who was sitting nearby.

Liang Xiujin gave a slight shake of his head, indicating that he had not told him anything about her family.

Qiao Jiu pressed her lips together. “My father... passed away almost half a year ago.”

Liu Changyong had still been smiling, but at those words his expression froze. “Passed away?”

He seemed unwilling to think in that direction and asked, “Where did he go?”

Qiao Jiu said, “Cancer. Stomach cancer.”

Liu Changyong slowly let the smile fade from his face. After a long moment, he drew in a breath. “His health was never that good, especially his stomach. Back when the two of us were building everything from the ground up, we never ate on time, and he was always having stomach problems.”

There was regret in his voice. “When I came this time, I had originally hoped to meet him. It’s been so many years.”

After a pause, he thought of something else. “Then why are you working here? What about your family company? I remember that by the time your father made it, he should have left you something.”

The question was so direct that Qiao Jiu did not know how to answer.

Liang Xiujin spoke from the side. “Mr. Liu, how about this: let me host dinner tonight. We can talk slowly over the meal. You two haven’t seen each other in many years, so I’m sure you have plenty to say.”

Liu Changyong let out a couple of awkward sounds, as if only then realizing what was happening. “All right, all right. I’m a little confused right now. Then let’s talk tonight. We’ll take our time.”

Qiao Jiu stood up. “Uncle Liu, then I’ll get back to work.”

She left the conference room, and after closing the door, she paused for a moment, feeling somewhat dazed.

She still remembered when she was very young: Liu Changyong and her father had been extremely close. It seemed the two of them had grown up together. Back when her father had not yet risen to success, they had started a business together, often gathering to drink and discuss business.

The first real estate venture had been a collaboration between the two of them. Later, when her father suddenly took off, Liu Changyong withdrew.

Not long after, he left Yuncheng and said he was going elsewhere to build a future for himself.

Even though they had gone their separate ways, there had been no falling-out. For the first few years, it seemed they were still in private contact, but after enough time passed, even that connection was cut off.

...

Qiao Jiu did not know exactly when Liu Changyong had left. She stayed busy at the company all morning. At noon, just as work ended and she stepped out of the lobby, she saw a car parked by the roadside, with a man standing beside it.

She knew this man. It was Zhao Shuo.

Nobody knew why he was standing there with his belly pushed out, leaning against the car door in a pose he probably thought looked very cool, as if waiting for someone.

Qiao Jiu glanced at him. She was not familiar with Zhao Shuo at all; they had spoken only a couple of times at a banquet table and had never exchanged greetings.

She turned and headed in another direction, but after only a few steps, he called out, “Miss Qiao, Miss Qiao.”

Qiao Jiu stopped. Zhao Shuo strode over, a little out of breath. “Miss Qiao.”

He smiled. “I didn’t recognize you yesterday. It was only after I heard from our Qingqing that I learned who you were.”

Qiao Jiu gave a quiet “Oh.” Whatever came out of Zou Qingqing’s mouth could not have been anything pleasant.

Zhao Shuo’s smile was so broad his eyes nearly disappeared. “So Miss Qiao works at the Liang family’s company now?”

He chuckled. “Our company is also going to be working with the Liang family soon. We should run into each other often from now on.”

Qiao Jiu looked at him but said nothing.

Zhao Shuo pressed his lips together, hesitated for a few seconds, and then said, “Are you going out for lunch? How about I treat you?”

He was quite skilled at this sort of thing. “I didn’t host you properly yesterday. Let me make it up to you today.”

“No need,” Qiao Jiu said. “I have something else to do.”

There were plenty of people who had not been properly hosted yesterday. She did not believe Zhao Shuo had come looking for her because of that.

Zhao Shuo looked faintly disappointed. “I see.”

Then he drew a breath. “All right, all right. Go on with your business. I’ll treat you another time.”

Qiao Jiu did not answer and simply turned and left. She had not gone far when her phone rang in her pocket.

She took it out and glanced at the screen, then let out a cold laugh.

It was Lu Fengzhou.