Chapter 84 Long Time No See

Chapter 84 Long Time No See

Chi Yu was also swept up by her delight.

He had noticed that Qin Shuyi never hesitated or declined gifts from others with false modesty, and she always responded with genuine, heartfelt appreciation.

If she felt a gift was inappropriate to accept, she would refuse it directly.

Chi Yu liked this kind of directness and ease.

The corners of his mouth lifted in a smile. "I got them through a friend. It's quite a coincidence, actually. Caitlin Doughty had never given a lecture in China before. This time seemed like a last-minute decision, and my friend just happened to be quick enough to snag them."

Qin Shuyi fluttered the ticket stubs, her smile bright. "Then thank you, Dr. Chi, and Dr. Chi's very kind friend~"

She had wanted to go too but hadn't managed to get tickets.

Chi Yu's gift had truly hit the mark.

Chi Yu's smile was warm. "Then, when the time comes, would Miss Qin do me the honor?"

Qin Shuyi nodded with a touch of reserve.

...

Aman sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time that day.

The owner, coming out from the kitchen, gave her a light rap on the forehead. "What's with all the sighing? You're sighing away all the shop's good fortune."

Aman let out another long sigh, shaking her head seriously. "Boss, you don't understand. I'm mourning a love that has passed."

The owner, re-tying her hair, looked at her skeptically. "You? The queen of singletons, mourning love? I'd believe it more if you were mourning your ex-boss."

Aman stomped her foot. "Prejudice! Prejudice!! Can't a single person have insights about love?"

The owner couldn't help but laugh. "Alright then, tell me, where are you getting this 'love' from?"

Aman tilted her chin towards the window. "There, right there."

The owner recognized Qin Shuyi and raised an eyebrow.

"Miss Qin broke up?"

Naturally referring to their major shareholder.

Aman nodded. "Probably, yeah."

A look of confusion crossed the owner's face. If that was the case, why had they received a notice from above to celebrate a certain couple's anniversary with a week-long couples' event?

It wasn't a holiday season, and their shop had decent foot traffic. What they were giving away every day was real money.

"Forget it."

She instructed Aman, "Just treat Miss Qin like any other customer. If they try to pay, just take their money like normal."

Previously, whenever Qin Shuyi came, the staff never charged her.

After all, Ling Jue had invested to save the shop precisely because he saw Qin Shuyi liked their cakes. The owner's name was still on the paperwork, but the actual owner was Ling Jue. How could he possibly charge his own girlfriend a few hundred or thousand bucks for some cake?

If Qin Shuyi hadn't refused, the shop would have been transferred to her name long ago.

The owner thought to herself, if Miss Qin really was dating someone new now, not charging in front of that gentleman and having to explain past entanglements would probably be awkward for Miss Qin.

Better to act as if nothing had happened.

As for what their major shareholder thought?

She was just here selling her baking skills; she didn't care about all that.

With Miss Qin's character and looks, wasn't it normal to have new suitors after a breakup? She wasn't going to make things difficult for anyone.

After all, even before Ling Jue appeared, there was a time when a customer had a medical episode in the shop. It was thanks to Miss Qin, a regular customer, who helped with first aid, comforted her when she was at a complete loss, and guided her through the follow-up. Otherwise, she, the owner, would have been in big trouble.

Who she felt closer to was her own business.

...

After finishing their cake, the two prepared to move on.

Chi Yu walked ahead and pushed open the glass door for Qin Shuyi.

However, as the door opened, they came face-to-face with a familiar face that gave him pause.

The woman on the steps below had shed her former youthful naivety. Her hair was loosely tied into a low ponytail that exuded a gentle elegance. The large, brightly colored earrings she once favored had been replaced by demure pearl studs.

Seeing the people emerging from the shop, she froze for a second.

Their eyes met. A light breeze brushed their cheeks, rustling the leaves on the plane trees.

"Long time no see," she said with a smile.

When she spoke, traces of her former lively and bright self surfaced again.

Chi Yu was quiet for a moment. "Long time no see."

The woman gently lifted her gaze, catching a glimpse through the gap beside him of Qin Shuyi, who had stopped in her tracks, holding the cake box.

Sunlight spilled down, freezing the three of them into a still painting.

...

Autumn might indeed be the season of harvest.

The next day, Qin Shuyi received another gift.

In a café near the company, Zhao Jinyu smiled as she slid a document across the table. "Here, sign it."

It was the share transfer agreement for her new company, the one she had used as a prize for the game at the engagement party.

A total of ten percent, to be divided equally among the five other women from the five couples besides her and Xie Muchen.

Qin Shuyi pushed the document back. "I can't accept such a reward without merit. That day, it was agreed it was just a small game. I didn't do anything."

Zhao Jinyu offered the shares to win over those influential families to her side. Whether Qin Shuyi participated or not had no impact on her plans or the outcome.

This gift was too valuable.

Others might accept it without qualms because they had capital to exchange, a transaction of interests. But besides receiving dividends, she would contribute nothing to the company's development.

Zhao Jinyu, however, didn't see it that way. "Because of you, Ling Jue participated in that game. You might not realize it, but Master Jue's endorsement held significant weight for me. And honestly, it was because of you that I won—that land in the western suburbs and half the purchase funds."

"Xie Muchen is your fiancé, so of course Ling Jue is on your side."

Zhao Jinyu raised an eyebrow. "That's not necessarily true. All business aside, Ling Jue doesn't do deals where he loses."

"But really, I just want you to have it."

She smiled charmingly.

"You're the one who exposed Xu Yan, and you're the one who gave me leverage over Zhao Mingcheng because of it. This isn't just a prize; it's also a thank-you gift."

Cutting her off before she could refuse again, Zhao Jinyu added, "A 2% stake isn't much to me, and this isn't my only company. If you don't want to use the money yourself, you can donate it. I've heard your company works with the government on charity projects, and your mother is a doctor with Doctors Without Borders. You can give it to them, or to children's homes or other welfare institutions—it's entirely up to you."

"Besides, if you don't accept it, people will say I, Zhao Jinyu, am a sore loser."

Zhao Jinyu was determined—she was set on giving it no matter what.

Qin Shuyi thought for a moment. "Since you're willing to have the money go to charity, why not donate the annual dividends directly from the company? I know you have your go-to charities. If I handle it, I probably won't do as good a job as the pros, and it'll just be extra work for me."

Zhao Jinyu glimpsed Qin Shuyi's stance.

She sighed. Fine. Here's a fortune others would kill for, offered on a silver platter, and Qin Shuyi brushes it off without a blink—she truly isn't greedy at all.

"Alright," Zhao Jinyu conceded, "but it can't be donated in the company's name. I'll put your name on it."

That was her bottom line.

Qin Shuyi nodded promptly.

Both were satisfied.

With business settled, Zhao Jinyu shrugged and pulled a stack of items from her bag.

"If I can't give you the shares, I'll have to borrow flowers to offer to Buddha—here's another new gift for you."

Qin Shuyi looked closely.

They were all tickets to a lecture by Caitlin Doughty—the very one she had just attended.

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