Chapter 12 A Powerful Backer

When he saw it was his cousin Chen Anxin who had arrived, a faint smile appeared on Lu Qian’an’s bespectacled face, instantly softening the calm and serious air he’d had a moment ago.

“Cousin, is everything settled on that side?”

“Of course. Didn’t you say that if Yu Hong insisted on having Director Li design, you’d cancel the collaboration? Their general manager immediately stopped Director Li from competing for the project.”

“Hmm.”

“So you really married Qin Miaoyu?”

“Yes.”

“Tsk, I thought you planned to spend your life alone. I never expected you’d actually see the day the clouds parted and the moon shone through. When I greeted her today, she looked so adorably bewildered.”

Chen Anxin was also from South City, and she and Lu Qian’an had always been close since childhood. Over the years, since Lu Qian’an often visited South City, she naturally discovered his feelings for Qin Miaoyu. Unfortunately, her foolish little cousin was clueless for so long, only regretting it when the girl was already engaged.

Lu Qian’an frowned at her words, and with the silver-rimmed glasses on his nose, he reverted to the stern manner he wore at the company.

“Chen Anxin, you’d better be careful not to let anything slip about my identity now. What if my wife runs away?”

Chen Anxin rolled her eyes. “So you plan to keep hiding it like this?”

Lu Qian’an was silent for a long time before saying, “Let’s wait a bit longer.”

If he confessed now, Qin Miaoyu would surely demand a divorce immediately!

So he’d better buy some more time. Maybe in the future, she wouldn’t be so resistant to his family background.

“Fine, but I’d advise you to come clean sooner rather than later. If Anhe’s new car launch goes well this time, you’ll be returning to the Lu Group headquarters before long. Then you’ll likely turn up in financial news or business magazines. At the very least, don’t let her hear the truth from someone else’s lips.”

Lu Qian’an pressed his lips together. “I know.”

Because she’d been drunk last night and spent the night tossing and turning, Qin Miaoyu was not in the best spirits. She decided to go to the break room and make herself a cup of instant coffee.

As she stirred her drink, she heard someone enter. Turning, she saw Director Li had come in.

Still, she felt little fear. Except for the wall-side, the break room was enclosed in transparent glass; everything inside could be seen from the outside. She wasn’t worried about Director Li, who cared so much about his reputation, doing anything untoward.

But she had no wish to greet him either, so she turned back to her coffee.

Director Li, however, stood nearby, gnashing his teeth. “Qin Miaoyu, I didn’t expect you to be so capable. You actually managed to cozy up to President Qi of Anhe and even had him bar me from this project!”

Qin Miaoyu was utterly baffled. What nonsense was Director Li spouting? She didn’t even know any President Qi from Anhe.

“Director Li, didn’t Anhe’s representatives already say it? Sister Lin Ling’s design better met their needs, and she had already successfully handled the new car launch for Tengyue. That’s why Anhe chose her. What does that have to do with me?”

Director Li wouldn’t believe a word. “Hmph, now that you have President Qi of Anhe backing you, you certainly talk tough. I’d like to see how long he’ll keep supporting you!”

He’d seen plenty of people from wealthy families, and almost all of them kept things proper at home while having plenty of flings outside. Powerful marriages were always like that—especially with a girl like Qin Miaoyu, who had no family background to speak of. Once President Qi lost interest, she’d be in for a rude awakening!

Qin Miaoyu felt Director Li must be unwell in the head. But recalling his mention of President Qi, she guessed it must be a misunderstanding from that time Lu Qian’an borrowed President Qi’s car.

That night, after work, she brought the matter up to Lu Qian’an at home, urging him to clarify things with President Qi, lest it affect him negatively.

A glint flashed through Lu Qian’an’s gentle eyes. He hadn’t expected Director Li to be so astute.

“Don’t worry, the instruction not to use Director Li was President Qi’s own order.”

“Huh?”

“I told President Qi about Director Li’s previous conduct. He thought such a person must be problematic, so he asked Secretary Chen to specify the requirement.”

“Secretary Chen? You mean the female representative from Anhe?” Qin Miaoyu recalled the capable, poised woman.

When she saw Lu Qian’an nod, she added, “She greeted me with a smile today, and I was puzzled since we didn’t know each other.”

Thinking of what his cousin had said earlier that day, a smile appeared on Lu Qian’an’s face.

“She’s my cousin. She knows about our marriage, and said you’re very cute.”

A flush instantly crept onto Qin Miaoyu’s cheeks.

She was used to being praised as gentle and sensible, or as obedient and well-mannered. It was the first time anyone had ever called her cute.

“Your cousin is so beautiful and elegant!”

Lu Qian’an’s brows lifted slightly. “Miaoyu, I think you’re very cute too.”

Seeing the expectant look on Lu Qian’an’s face, Qin Miaoyu immediately understood his meaning. For once, she felt a bit mischievous, thanked him softly, and went to the kitchen to fetch bowls.

Lu Qian’an caught her playful glance and smiled.

Qin Miaoyu truly was adorable!

Originally, Qin Miaoyu hadn’t been part of the project team for this Anhe collaboration. But because Anhe was so cautious about the new car launch, the whole company was on high alert, determined to make the project flawless. In the end, the team was expanded, and several people were added at the last minute—Qin Miaoyu among them.

Of course, the new additions were mainly there to run errands and handle miscellaneous tasks, so the original team could focus fully on planning the launch event.

Her phone vibrated on the table. When she checked, it was a message from Sister Lin Ling, asking her to come to the office.

Inside, Lin Ling handed her a folder and explained what needed to be communicated with Anhe.

After Lin Ling finished, Qin Miaoyu asked, “Sister Lin, why me?”

“Everyone else is busy, and Xiao Liu, who usually coordinates with Anhe, is on leave today. During yesterday’s meeting, I could see you’d thoroughly grasped the design concept for this launch. I feel confident letting you handle this.”

At the project’s regular meeting yesterday, under Lin Ling’s questioning, Qin Miaoyu had shared some of her ideas, which fit perfectly with the launch design.

Usually, because she handled only the most basic tasks, and with Zhou Xun and Director Li above her, she was only well-known in the company for her looks and presence.

This sudden turn of events made many colleagues see her in a new light.

Lin Ling had her reasons for giving Qin Miaoyu this opportunity at the meeting. First, she was a direct junior from the same university, and they’d known each other before. Lin Ling had even recommended her to Yu Hong, so she naturally wanted to help her junior out.

Another reason was that she’d noticed the friendly attitude of Anhe’s female representative toward her junior at that event.

Right now, she was in urgent need of someone, and all things considered, Qin Miaoyu was the best choice.