novelonline Chapter 1444 Even Dorgon couldn't handle it, so what makes you think you can?
Chapter 1444 Even Dorgon couldn't handle it, so what makes you think you can?
Chapter 1444 Even Dorgon couldn't handle it, so what makes you think you can?
Time flies, and it's already early autumn of 2016.
More than three years have passed since Qin Hao took office as the general manager of Bianti's mainland branch. During these three years, under Qin Hao's multiple reforms, Bianti's performance has been booming. Not only has its business volume continued to grow, but its profit margin has also increased by 2.3 times compared to before he took office, far exceeding the big boss's expectations.
This achievement is nothing short of miraculous among multinational consulting firms. Typically, established companies like Bianti are considered quite successful if they can maintain an annual profit growth of 5%-10%. Qin Hao, however, more than doubled profits within three years, making him not only a household name within the company but also a legendary figure in the entire industry.
Because of this remarkable performance, Qin Hao was promoted to Vice President of the Asia-Pacific region earlier this year, becoming the highest-ranking Chinese person in Bianti's history. He remains based in Shanghai, but his responsibilities have expanded to the entire Asia-Pacific region, and his authority and influence have reached a new level.
Tang Jing's performance over the past three years has also been outstanding. With Qin Hao's recommendation and support, she has frequently received commendations from headquarters, and last year, through Qin Hao's recommendation, she successfully became a junior partner of Bianti, gaining the qualification to participate in the year-end profit sharing.
This means that Tang Jing's income structure has undergone a fundamental change. In addition to her base salary and project bonuses, she can also share in the company's overall profit growth.
Of course, Chenxing, which has a deep partnership with Bianti, has also benefited greatly during these three years. In addition to the continuous growth in business volume, more importantly, the long-term outsourcing orders from Bianti have provided excellent training for Chenxing's team, resulting in a significant improvement in their professional skills.
The one who benefited the most was naturally Chen Junsheng. On the one hand, his abilities were indeed outstanding, and he performed exceptionally well in multiple projects; on the other hand, because of his personal relationship with Qin Hao, Chenxing's senior management paid him special attention. To prevent Qin Hao from poaching Chen Junsheng, Chenxing not only increased his annual salary to 230 million yuan, but also promoted him to the position of vice president, responsible for the company's overall project management.
This position brought Chen Junsheng higher income and status, but it also meant greater responsibility and a busier workload. He needed to manage multiple projects simultaneously, coordinate different teams, and frequently communicate with partners such as Bianti. Overtime became commonplace, he got home later and later, and had less and less communication with his wife, Luo Zijun.
Meanwhile, Luo Zijun, this full-time housewife, continues to live a life revolving around beauty treatments, shopping, and television dramas. As Chen Junsheng comes home later and later, her insecurity intensifies, and she investigates her husband more frequently. Chen Junsheng outwardly pretends not to know, but his dissatisfaction with Luo Zijun grows steadily.
The gap between the two is widening silently.
That night, the offices of Chenxing Company were brightly lit. It was already 12:30 a.m., but several project teams were still working overtime to meet deadlines.
Chen Junsheng sat in his private office, staring at the dense data on his computer screen, feeling a wave of dizziness. He had been working for fifteen hours straight; his eyes were dry, his shoulders ached, and his thinking was becoming sluggish.
Just then, a hot cup of coffee was suddenly handed to him.
"Mr. Chen, how about some coffee to perk yourself up?" A gentle female voice sounded from the side.
Chen Junsheng looked up and saw Ling Ling standing next to the desk with a concerned smile on her face.
"Lingling, why aren't you off work yet?" Chen Junsheng took the coffee, took a sip, and the warm liquid made him feel a little more comfortable.
Ling Ling smiled and sat down on the chair next to her. "There's still some work to finish. Besides, aren't you working overtime too? As a subordinate, how can you leave before your boss?"
Chen Junsheng rubbed his sore eyes: "It's almost one o'clock, and I should probably get off work too. You live far away, so you should go home early. Come on, I'll take you."
"No need to trouble yourself, I can just take a taxi myself." Ling Ling waved her hand repeatedly.
Chen Junsheng stood up abruptly, picked up his car keys, and said, "Alright, taxis are too expensive. Our company doesn't offer the same benefits as Bianti; we don't reimburse taxi fares for working late at night. I'll give you a ride; it's on my way anyway."
"Well... thank you, Mr. Chen." Ling Ling hesitated for a moment, but still accepted.
The two packed their things and headed towards the underground parking garage together.
Inside the elevator, the two stood side by side, neither speaking. Chen Junsheng caught a faint scent of perfume; it wasn't an expensive designer brand, but rather a relatively inexpensive one, though the scent was still quite refreshing.
"Lingling, what perfume are you wearing? It smells nice," Chen Junsheng asked casually.
Ling Ling paused for a moment, then said somewhat embarrassedly, "It's just from the supermarket, a few dozen yuan a bottle. I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Mr. Chen."
"No, it's great," Chen Junsheng said. "It's much more practical than those perfumes that cost thousands or tens of thousands of yuan."
The two arrived at the underground parking garage. Chen Junsheng pressed the car key, and a black BMW 5 Series flashed its lights. As Ling Ling sat in the passenger seat, a complex light flashed in her eyes—envy, longing, and a hint of indescribable emotion.
The car drove out of the garage and merged into the traffic of Shanghai's late night. There were very few cars on the street, and the streetlights cast flickering shadows on the car windows.
"Mr. Chen, you work so late every day. Your wife must be working very hard taking care of the family all by herself, right?" Ling Ling asked softly, her tone full of just the right amount of concern.
Chen Junsheng shook his head and said with a wry smile, "She's not tired at all. The housework is all done by the nanny, and the children are all grown up, so she doesn't need to watch them every day. She just watches TV series, goes shopping, and gets beauty treatments every day..."
“Your wife is so lucky.” Ling Ling’s tone was ambiguous, whether it was envy or something else: “She can marry such an outstanding man as you and doesn’t have to worry about anything.”
Chen Junsheng glanced at Ling Ling and suddenly asked, "Ling Ling, let me ask you a question—doesn't every woman wish she could live a life like this? Not having to work, being supported by someone, and being able to buy whatever she wants?"
Ling Ling thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I don't necessarily mean that. Everyone pursues different things. Look at Tang Jing, the CEO of Bianti, she's just as capable as any man in her career."
“That’s true, Tang Jing is really hardworking.” Chen Junsheng nodded, then asked, “And what about you? What kind of life do you hope to live?”
“Me?” Ling Ling gave a bitter smile, turning her face to look out the window. “I don’t have your wife’s luck. You’re so outstanding, she can just stay at home and be a rich housewife. I’m different. I’m divorced, raising my child alone, and my monthly salary is barely enough to make ends meet. I don’t dare to think so much. I’m content as long as I can raise my child and send him to school.”
"You're divorced?" Chen Junsheng asked in surprise. "How come you've never mentioned it before?"
“Divorce isn’t anything to be proud of, who would go around telling everyone?” Ling Ling’s voice lowered, tinged with a sob. She turned her head and pretended to wipe away her tears.
While waiting at a red light, Chen Junsheng pulled out two tissues from the car's tissue box and handed them to Ling Ling: "Wipe your hands."
"I'm sorry, I made you laugh." Lingling took the tissue and wiped away her tears while saying in a low voice, "Sometimes I feel like I've failed. I haven't managed my marriage well, my job is just average, and I can't even provide a better life for my child."
Chen Junsheng was silent for a while, then said quietly, "Actually, getting a divorce and living alone doesn't seem so bad. At least you're free."
The car fell into dead silence. Only the low hum of the engine and the sound of the wind outside the window could be heard.
After a while, as the car passed a traffic light, Ling Ling suddenly spoke up: "Mr. Chen, could you drop me off at the next intersection? My apartment complex is just ahead, only a short walk away."
"I'll take you directly to the entrance of your residential area," Chen Junsheng said. "The road ahead is quite dark; it's not safe for you to be alone."
"Thank you, Mr. Chen." Ling Ling did not refuse.
The car stopped at the entrance of an old-fashioned residential area. The area looked quite old; the exterior walls of the buildings were somewhat mottled, and the streetlights were not bright enough.
“I live in this house.” Ling Ling unbuckled her seatbelt. “Thank you, Mr. Chen, for bringing me back. Please drive carefully and get some rest.”
"Okay, you should get some rest too." Chen Junsheng nodded.
Watching Ling Ling's figure disappear into the darkness, Chen Junsheng felt a strange emotion rising in his heart—was it sympathy? Was it pity? Or something else? He couldn't say for sure.
He sat in the car, lit a cigarette, quietly finished it, and then started the car again, driving towards home.
……
It was past 2 a.m. when he got home. Chen Junsheng quietly closed the door, afraid of waking his wife and children who were already asleep.
He turned on the living room light, only to be startled—Luo Zijun was sitting on the sofa, staring straight at him with a look of scrutiny and suspicion.
"It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?" Chen Junsheng tried to make his voice sound natural.
Luo Zijun stood up, walked to Chen Junsheng's side, and carefully looked him over: "Why are you so late today? It's almost three o'clock."
“We have a few projects coming up, and the ones from Bianti are quite urgent, so everyone is working overtime.” Chen Junsheng subconsciously avoided his wife’s gaze, took off his coat, and headed to the restroom.
Luo Zijun picked up her husband's coat and sniffed it. She smelled a faint, cheap perfume scent. The scent was so faint that it was almost imperceptible unless you were deliberately looking for it.
Luo Zijun sat on the sofa, motionless for a long time. Her suspicions grew heavier. Chen Junsheng had been working overtime more and more frequently lately, coming home later and later, and his attitude towards her had become increasingly cold. Now, there was this unfamiliar perfume on him…
Although the smell was very faint, so faint that she wasn't even sure if it was real, her woman's intuition told her that things weren't so simple.
……
The next morning, Luo Zijun called Tang Jing immediately. However, Tang Jing was in an important meeting and her phone was off. Luo Zijun called several times without answering, growing increasingly anxious.
It wasn't until noon that Tang Jing called back: "Zijun, what's wrong? Why did you call so many times so early in the morning? What happened?"
"Tang Jing, can you check for me if Junsheng really was working overtime last night?" Luo Zijun said urgently. "I suspect he's lying to me."
Tang Jing sighed on the other end of the phone: "My dear lady, can you please stop being so suspicious all the time? I've investigated so many times for you over the years, and in the end, it turned out that they were all wrong. Chen Junsheng isn't that kind of person. You should trust him."
“But last night was different.” Luo Zijun insisted, “I smelled cheap perfume on him, and he’s been getting colder and colder to me lately, coming home later and later… Tang Jing, please help me investigate one more time, just this once, please.”
Hearing her best friend's almost pleading tone, Tang Jing had no choice but to agree: "Okay, I'll ask for you. But you also have to promise me that you won't overthink it. Chen Junsheng is so busy with work and under so much pressure, you should be more understanding of him instead of doubting him."
"I know, I know, please ask for me quickly," Luo Zijun urged.
Tang Jing hung up the phone, called her assistant Xiao Liu, and handed over the task to her. Xiao Liu had now become Tang Jing's most capable assistant and was quite adept at these "investigative" tasks.
An hour later, Xiao Liu returned with the investigation results: "Sis, I found out. Chen Junsheng was indeed working overtime last night. Several project teams at Chenxing were rushing to meet deadlines, and they didn't get off work until after 2 a.m. Moreover, the entire department was working overtime, not just him."
Tang Jing told Luo Zijun the result. After hearing it, Luo Zijun was slightly relieved: "That's good... Maybe I was just overthinking it. I don't know why, I've been so suspicious lately."
"You're just too idle," Tang Jing said. "Staying at home all day with nothing to do makes you prone to overthinking. Why don't you find something to do? Learn a skill, or start a small business?"
"What can I do?" Luo Zijun said self-deprecatingly. "I haven't worked for ten years. I'm completely out of touch with society. Besides, Junsheng earns enough for us to live on. Why should I go out and work hard?"
Tang Jing shook her head helplessly, knowing she couldn't persuade her, so she stopped talking.
"By the way, how are things between you and Lao Qin lately?" Luo Zijun changed the subject, her tone becoming ambiguous: "You're so busy every day, it's easy for others to take advantage of you. I heard that Vivian is still pestering him?"
A bitter look flashed in Tang Jing's eyes. After a few seconds of silence, she said in a low voice, "Don't mention it. We've already broken up."
"Huh? What happened?" Luo Zijun asked in surprise, "Weren't you two always getting along well? How did you suddenly break up?"
“Actually, we had an open and honest talk about this three years ago.” Tang Jing’s voice was calm, but a hint of disappointment was hidden beneath the calm: “We agreed that from now on, we would only have the relationship of colleagues and friends, and there would be no other possibility.”
"Why?" Luo Zijun asked, puzzled. "Didn't Lao Qin care about you quite a bit before? I thought you two would get together sooner or later."
Tang Jing smiled bitterly: "Maybe it's because I haven't given him a definite answer. You know, I'm always a bit insecure when it comes to relationships. And him... he's not desperate for me. He has his pride and won't wait forever."
"What a scumbag! A leopard can't change its spots!" Luo Zijun cursed indignantly. "I knew he was a heartbreaker! He was like that in college, and he's still like that now! Tang Jing, don't be sad, you're better off without a man like that!"
Hearing her best friend defend her, Tang Jing felt a warm current flow through her heart. She smiled and said, "Alright, he's not exactly a scumbag. It takes two to tango when it comes to relationships. I hesitated for too long, so I don't blame him. Besides, he's my boss now, and it's more comfortable maintaining this kind of relationship. At least our work collaboration is pleasant, and that's enough."
"Well... why don't you consider He Han?" Luo Zijun asked tentatively. "Although he's not as good as Lao Qin in every aspect, he's still pretty good overall. Besides, he used to treat you quite well, and I heard he's still not married."
Tang Jing laughed and scolded, "Do you think people are like cabbages in a supermarket, to be picked and chosen at will? Forget it, I think being alone is pretty good now. My work is fulfilling, and my income is considerable. Once I've earned enough money, I'll go live in the best nursing home and enjoy my old age in comfort."
"Pah! What nursing home!" Luo Zijun said, "We'll have Ping'er take care of us in our old age. I'm his biological mother, you're his godmother, and you're also my best friend. Don't worry, as long as I have food to eat, you won't go hungry."
Tang Jing felt a warmth in her heart as she listened to Luo Zijun's seemingly unreliable words. She knew that although Luo Zijun had many flaws, her sincerity towards her friends was beyond doubt.
"Alright, alright, I'm not talking to you anymore, I still have to work." Tang Jing said, "You shouldn't overthink things all day. Be nicer to Chen Junsheng and be more understanding of him. It's not easy for men to work hard outside, you should be his support, not his burden."
"Okay, okay, you're just like my mom." Luo Zijun muttered, "I'll hang up now, I'm going to pick Ping'er up from school."
After hanging up the phone, Tang Jing was about to lower her head and continue working when she caught a glimpse of Qin Hao and Vivian walking out of the office side by side, chatting and laughing, looking very close.
When she looked up again, the two had already disappeared from sight.
Tang Jing felt a mix of emotions. Although she said she didn't care, seeing Qin Hao so close to another woman still made her feel uneasy.
She pressed the intercom button: "Xiao Liu, is President Qin in his office?"
Assistant Xiao Liu whispered, "Sister, President Qin just went out with Vivian. But they probably went to Chenxing downstairs. Recently, two of Vivian's projects have been stuck at Chenxing, and the progress is lagging behind. I guess they asked President Qin to help them out."
Tang Jing snorted coldly in a voice that could barely be heard by herself: "Hmph, I don't see him being this attentive to every project. He's showing favoritism."
"Sister, what did you say?" Xiao Liu didn't hear clearly.
"Oh, it's nothing." Tang Jing shook her head. "I understand. You can go ahead and get back to work."
……
Chenxing Conference Room.
"President Qin, Vivian, you've arrived! Let's begin." Chen Junsheng and his group had been waiting for quite some time.
"Alright, no need for formalities, let's get started." Qin Hao raised his hand to stop the others from getting up.
The meeting lasted for more than three hours, during which Vivian repeatedly sought opportunities to make physical contact with Qin Hao. These subtle actions were clearly visible to everyone present, yet they all tacitly understood them.
At 10 p.m., the meeting finally ended. Qin Hao announced the meeting was adjourned, and then said to Vivian, "You can go back now. Junsheng and I still have things to discuss."
Vivian clearly didn't want to leave. She leaned closer to Qin Hao and whispered, "Are you free to come over tonight? I learned a new dish and I'd like to make it for you to try."
"Not tonight," Qin Hao said calmly. "I have a social engagement."
"What kind of social engagement? Do you need a female companion? I can go with you," Vivian said reluctantly.
Seeing Vivian's eagerness, Qin Hao's expression turned serious, and his voice turned cold: "Vivian, have you forgotten what our agreement was?"
Vivian's expression changed slightly, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her sweet and affectionate demeanor, pouting and saying coquettishly, "Oh, I just missed you so much. You haven't contacted me for days."
Seeing that Qin Hao remained unmoved, she had no choice but to compromise: "Okay, okay, I know I was wrong, and I won't do it again. Please forgive me, okay?"
Qin Hao nodded slightly: "Go back now, be careful on the road."
Vivian reluctantly left the conference room. Qin Hao watched her retreating figure, shook his head, and then turned to Chen Junsheng: "Come on, want to grab a couple of drinks? I know a nice new bar that just opened nearby."
Chen Junsheng hesitated for a moment, handed over his work to his subordinates, and then left the conference room with Qin Hao.
Just as the two stepped out of the conference room and were heading to the elevator, Ling Ling approached them. She was holding a document and looked like she had just finished working overtime as well.
"President Qin, President Chen, this is this month's industry data analysis report. I've already compiled it." Ling Ling handed the document to Chen Junsheng.
Chen Junsheng took the document and glanced at it casually: "You've worked hard, still working overtime so late."
"Of course." Ling Ling smiled, then looked at Qin Hao: "President Qin, you're here to guide our work today too?"
"Yes, I came to check on the project's progress." Qin Hao nodded.
Chen Junsheng said, "You can give this report directly to Xiao Wang. We're going home now. You should also go home early; it's not safe for the child to be home alone so late."
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Chen. I'll pack up and leave soon."
In the elevator, Qin Hao patted Chen Junsheng on the shoulder and suddenly said, "You and this Ling Ling have a problem."
Chen Junsheng was startled and almost dropped the documents in his hand: "Don't talk nonsense! What problem could there be between her and me? We're just ordinary superiors and subordinates."
"Why are you concerned about someone else's child if there's nothing wrong with you?" Qin Hao said with a half-smile, "Besides, the way she looks at you seems a bit off."
"That was just a casual concern between colleagues..." Chen Junsheng was clearly a little guilty, and his voice grew softer and softer.
Qin Hao stared at Chen Junsheng for a while, making Chen Junsheng feel uneasy. Then he laughed: "Alright, don't try to argue with me. I'll get you a few drinks later, and you'll confess."
"Can I choose not to go?" Chen Junsheng asked with a bitter face.
"No way!" Qin Hao said firmly, "I can't sleep tonight if I don't hear this big gossip. Besides, as a friend, I have a responsibility to remind you of some things."
Chen Junsheng was speechless for a moment, but he had no choice but to be pulled into the car by Qin Hao and driven towards the newly opened bar.
……
The bar was quiet, with soft lighting and soothing music. Qin Hao and Chen Junsheng found a corner seat and ordered whiskey and a few side dishes.
After a few drinks, Chen Junsheng gradually opened up. In front of Qin Hao, he didn't need to pretend and could freely pour out his inner troubles.
"Old Qin, what do you think marriage really means for a man?" Chen Junsheng swirled the wine in his glass, his eyes glazed over.
Qin Hao smiled and said, "Do you need to ask anyone else about this? You've been married for so many years, you should be the most qualified to answer this question."
Chen Junsheng smiled bitterly and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp: "I used to think that the word 'home' was warm and wonderful. Coming home from get off work meant a hot meal, my wife's care, and my children's laughter... But now, the last thing I want to go back to every day is home."
He poured himself another glass of wine and continued, "Because once I go back, it means having to answer Luo Zijun's questions in a series of pointless conversations—'Why are you so late today?' 'Who were you with?' 'Have you eaten?'... It's been the same for ten years, without any change. And now there's the added check-in, phone search, and smelling of my clothes..."
Qin Hao listened quietly without interrupting. He knew that Chen Junsheng needed to confide in someone, not to receive advice.
To outsiders, Chen Junsheng's life seemed to be the pinnacle of what most people could achieve—an annual salary of 230 million yuan, living in an upscale neighborhood in downtown Shanghai, driving a BMW 5 Series, with a beautiful wife and intelligent, adorable children. This should have been the epitome of a perfect life.
But in reality, the pressure on middle-aged men is like an invisible mountain, making it hard for them to breathe. On the one hand, as they age, their physical strength and energy gradually decline; on the other hand, their wives' extravagant spending and huge household expenses put them under immense financial pressure.
Despite his annual salary of 2.3 million, his family savings are less than 300,000. He also has hundreds of thousands in mortgage debt to pay off, and his child's education fund is not yet prepared. If anything changes at work—such as an industry downturn, company layoffs, or health problems—he could lose everything overnight.
The greatest tragedy for a middle-aged man is that every day when he opens his eyes, everyone around him depends on him—his wife, children, parents, subordinates… while he has no one to rely on. He has to bear all the pressure and solve all the difficulties on his own.
“If you feel too much pressure, you can have an open and honest talk with Luo Zijun.” After Chen Junsheng finished venting, Qin Hao patted him on the shoulder: “Tell her about your pressure, ask her to tone it down a bit and be more understanding of you. Marriage requires communication.”
Chen Junsheng shook his head with a wry smile and drank another glass of wine: "Actually, it's not that I mind how much money she spends. Money is meant to be spent. What I really can't stand is that I've realized I no longer have the desire to communicate with her."
He looked up at Qin Hao, his eyes filled with exhaustion and helplessness: "Old Qin, do you know? Last night she had Tang Jing check up on me again. I feel like a criminal, with no freedom and no privacy. I don't understand what I did wrong to make her suspect me like this? I work so hard every day, isn't it all for this family?"
Qin Hao was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "If you're sure you don't want to be with Luo Zijun anymore, I can introduce you to a very good divorce lawyer. He's very experienced in handling property division and child custody."
Chen Junsheng was stunned, clearly not expecting Qin Hao to be so direct.
Qin Hao looked him into the eyes and continued, "But there's one thing I need to remind you—if you really decide to get a divorce, never get involved with that Ling Ling. Even Dorgon couldn't handle a middle-aged divorced woman with a son; what makes you think you can?"
Chen Junsheng's expression changed, and he wanted to argue, but ultimately remained silent. He knew Qin Hao was right, but his feelings were complicated and he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
The two drank for a while longer, not leaving the bar until after 2 a.m. Qin Hao called a designated driver to take Chen Junsheng home first.