“Good morning, Director Chen. I’ll be reporting your schedule today. You have an appointment with Director Wang from Yongjian construction company and Director Xie from Liumin Equity Firm this noon at the construction site.” A woman dressed in a neatly ironed grey office suit with a black pencil skirt approached Chen Jinxuan the moment he stepped into his office.

“Good morning, Secretary Zhou. What time will it be?” Chen Jinxuan sat behind his desk and put his briefcase on his desk.

“At 1 PM after lunch.” Chen Jinxuan’s secretary was a single mother with a seven-year-old daughter. She joined the company just a few months ago. Her full name was Zhou Meixin. She may be fairly new to the company, but her quick learning had earned her the trust of Xiuyan Real Estate’s CEO.

She was fully devoted to increasing her living quality, so she paid no heed to things that did not influence her living—including the secret rendezvous Chen Jinxuan had with Fang Yaowei. If the company prospered, she would too. Knowing or not, there was no difference and hence, that secret remained sealed.

“Arrange it accordingly. Anything else?”

“I believe the actual financial plan should be discussed since the loan to the bank has been approved by the board of directors.” Zhou Meixin suggested as she wrote in her notebook.“Purchasing the revenue anticipation bond from the municipality… We are short on finance for the apartment project.”

“The capital needed for the apartment project is rather big. Director Xie will not agree unless we give him a definite number, so tell Yaowei to have it completed before lunch.”  Chen Jinxuan’s gaze fell on the red folder on his desk. He picked it up and pondered for a while before handing it to Zhou Meixin. “Have a copy of this delivered to each of the board of directors. Make sure they keep mum about it. Tell them the decision is final. Also, phone lawyer Liu about the demand letter too.”

“This… Sir, I am a mere secretary…”

“Director Chen, my father, already knows about it. Tongues will not wag.” Chen Jinxuan threw a stern look at Zhou Meixin. “Find a suitable replacement while you visit the finance department.”

Zhou Meixin received the red folder and bowed slightly, marching her way out of the office.

The walk to the finance department was not far. It only took about fifteen minutes, and Zhou Meixin had already come back. “Director Fang will deliver the financial plan on his own after he finishes it.”

Chen Jinxuan had expected that. It was the normal norm. To their subordinates, delivering reports personally was a form of respect from Fang Yaowei to Chen Jinxuan, and also a way for them to talk as friends amidst work. As friendly as Fang Yaowei was to his department, he was still the director, and no one would actually cross the leader-subordinate boundary. In this case, Fang Yaowei and Chen Jinxuan were both in the same shoes.

“Did you see anyone suitable in the department?”

“Yes. After informing Mr. Fang about the financial plan, I asked about the revenue anticipation bond. He said the person in charge is his deputy, Mr. Song.”

“Song Jia… He has been working here for three years. He is quite capable. Call him in.” Chen Jinxuan said as he took a few documents out of his briefcase. They were the signed contracts of their on-going projects. He reviewed them as he waited.

Zhou Meixin picked up the telephone on Chen Jinxuan’s desk and dialled to Song Jia’s desk. “Mr. Song, Director Chen wants to see you regarding the revenue anticipation bond. Please make your way as soon as possible.”

Afterwards, she placed the telephone back and stood on stand-by next to Chen Jinxuan. She procured her smartphone and dialled lawyer Liu who was in charge of all sorts of legal process Xiuyan Real Estate required. 

A few minutes of call ended and right at this time, Song Jia arrived at Chen Jinxuan’s office. Song Jia was a jolly man in his forties. He was a decade older than Chen Jinxuan but he didn’t seem to mind the gap. He bowed respectfully the moment he entered, and he approached Chen Jinxuan’s desk with a grin on his face.

Chen Jinxuan quickly assessed him from head to toe and found him a decent candidate as the next leader for the finance team. Chen Jinxuan told him to account for the progress of the revenue anticipation bond. Song Jia replied in a methodical manner. From the date when the agreements were signed to their current advancement, he explained without a detail missed. Based on what he said, their loan should be transferred by this afternoon to the municipality, and the railway expansion should start next week.

The apartment project needs a source of funds… Director Xie won’t sign unless the financial plan is crystal clear. If he chooses not to sign, the project will be stalled until we find another investor…

Satisfied, Chen Jinxuan complimented Song Jia a few words before dismissing him. He had accomplished his objective.

Zhou Meixin peeked at Chen Jinxuan’s expression. From her previous experience as a corporate secretary in the HR department, she knew that Chen Jinxuan was faltering. As to why he faltered, it was because Song Jia was an excellent candidate to be promoted as the to-be-director.

“Sir, are you sure about this?”

“All agreements are signed, the loan will be transferred this afternoon, and I will be visiting the construction site with the other two investors this noon; am I not certain enough?”

“Will it not be a loss for us to lay off Mr. Fang from his post?”

A loss. Everyone had been saying that it was the company’s loss to fire Fang Yaowei. Everyone favoured Fang Yaowei over his decision as the CEO. Everyone put Fang Yaowei up in the clouds while he was tossed to the ground from the heights by this man. From his father to his most trusted secretary… How could he not know the percentage of damage he was causing by dismissing Fang Yaowei as the director of the finance department? How could he not know the proportion of loss he suffered compared to the company?

Chen Jinxuan sat on this chair for four years and ever since he took over the operation of the whole corporation, he felt as if he had merged with it. To the employees, he was not just a representation of the company—he was the company. He was not alive in their eyes.

“A loss indeed, but that is business not law.” Chen Jinxuan sighed under his breath as he turned to face Zhou Meixin. Smiling thinly, he said, “You may go.”

Zhou Meixin was stunned for a moment when she saw that faint smile. They had been meeting every workday, but she had just noticed the surfacing dark circles under Chen Jinxuan’s eyes. However, she had been dismissed, so she bowed slightly and left.

Chen Jinxuan heaved a heavy sigh as he turned to see the see-through glass wall. November wind was blowing, and dark clouds were gliding, shrouding the town under in shadows. His eyes were glued at the soon crying sky as he reached for the cup of coffee Zhou Meixin had prepared for him this morning. He took a sip of the hot coffee as he watched leaves flutter in the air.

He set his coffee down and opened his drawer where two ring boxes lie. His movement was stunned, but he regained his certainty in a second.

A moment later, Chen Jinxuan’s attention was fully occupied by the agreements and yearly plan. Amidst his mind were multiple simulations to each plan. Right at this moment, he recalled that Tang Yi, the heir to Hongming Equity Firm, wanted to advance their plan to acquire Xiuyan Real Estate. As he had told his father before, their stand remained. Chen Zhuoheng had fifteen percent of the company’s shares. Chen Jinxuan held ten percent. Fang Yaowei held five percent and the other twenty was distributed among other directors of their departments.

With twenty five percent in the hands of the Chen family, Tang Yi had to put out wealth amounting more than that in order to acquire Xiuyan Real Estate. Although Hongming Equity Firm had been established for decades and even if they were rich, to suddenly spend so much was implausible. It would sound tremendously ambitious and mind-blowing if he could though.

Chen Jinxuan scoffed as he thought of that. He had truly become cold… or perhaps numb to everything. Not even this scale of challenge was enough to shake his composure. 

Knockings came from the door and soon, Fang Yaowei poked his head inside as he smiled. He made his way in with a neatly organised folder in hand.

“You’re here.” Chen Jinxuan raised his eyes and glanced at Fang Yaowei. “Any problem with the financial plan?

“Nothing I cannot handle, sir. I have cut out unnecessary expenses and allocated it to the marketing strategy.”

“Good idea.”

Fang Yaowei placed the folder on the table with both palms pinning it. He leaned forward, gently placing his lips on Chen Jinxuan’s forehead. “I have finished it before lunch as requested. Will I receive any reward—”

‘Bang!’ Chen Zhuoheng stormed in. Behind him was Secretary Zhou who attempted to stall his entry.

“—I’m here to have lunch with my son, how dare you deny my entry?!” When Chen Zhuoheng stepped in, his eyes widened as his gaze fell on Fang Yaowei and the lips that were on his son’s forehead. Sensing the ambiguous air between them, he narrowed his eyes next, feeling as if he had just been struck by lightning.

Digest:

Municipal Bond that Xiuyan Real Estate purchases is a type of security issued by the local government. The funds gathered is usually used to build hospitals, public transportations, schools, etc. In exchange for funding the construction, the government will return the investors with a fixed interest. Municipal Bond does not include taxes which is why it is attractive to some people.

Having purchased this, Xiuyan Real Estate has not enough funds for their executive apartment project. If Director Xie from Liumin Equity Firm decides not to participate as an investor, the project will not be able to advance.