Chapter 9: Boarded a Pirate Ship

“Hahahahaha…”

Sheng Xia mimicked a street vendor’s enthusiastic pitch with flair, causing the Zhenbao team in the meeting room to burst into laughter. Even most of the people from Junli Design Department were struggling to suppress their chuckles.

Wang Roujia’s face turned green with rage. She pointed her perfectly manicured, rhinestone-covered nails at Sheng Xia and snapped, “Sheng Xia, how dare you mess with me!”

Calm and collected, Sheng Xia returned to the podium, shut down the computer, turned off the power, and unplugged her USB drive in one smooth motion.

With a composed tone, she said, “What do you mean, Director Wang? Didn’t I revise the plan based on your suggestions? Why are you still unhappy?”

“You can’t revise it like this! Bringing your company’s scrap-iron teapots to our exhibition—do you think Junli International is a junkyard?”

Just then, Feng Jianyu jumped onto the stage, picked up Sheng Xia’s bag, and replied to the furious woman in a casual tone.

“Oh my, Director Wang, those words—‘junkyard’—didn’t come from any of us at Zhenbao. You were the one who decided it applied to you.”

“Exactly! You’re the one associating Junli with a junkyard, and then blaming us? That makes no sense at all.” Xiao Wei had joined them onstage without anyone noticing. She clung affectionately to Sheng Xia’s arm and gave her a discreet thumbs-up.

“You… you all…” Wang Roujia was so furious she was speechless.

Guo Zhifei and two other design department employees rushed over to her, quietly urging her to calm down.

“I can’t calm down! Zhenbao’s people are so conniving!”

Guo Zhifei awkwardly said, “Curator Sheng, some things are fine as jokes, but this ‘Scrap Iron Series’…”

Sheng Xia immediately interrupted him. “A gentleman’s word is his bond. Oh dear, why am I suddenly so hungry? I think I skipped breakfast. Come on, morning work’s over. Let’s go to lunch…”

Guo Zhifei tried to say something more, but Xiao Wei raised an arm to stop him. “Team Leader Guo, we’re off to eat. Don’t follow us. This idea came from your Director Wang, didn’t it? You’d better spend the next few days digesting her suggestion properly.”

Guo Zhifei: “…”

Summer meant frequent rainstorms. After lunch, dark clouds gathered quickly in the sky, and thunder crackled above. The Zhenbao team ran in a panic toward the meeting building, barely making it to the steps before a torrential downpour began.

“That rain came out of nowhere…”

“How are we supposed to get back? No taxis at all…”

Someone from the team grumbled.

A message had just come in their group chat: since it was Friday and the weather was bad, they were allowed to leave work early and head home without waiting for the official dismissal time.

Naturally, they were thrilled about an early weekend. But Junli was located in the city’s remote north end, far from downtown. No subway, buses halted, taxis unavailable—the team was stuck.

“Junli’s people are so inconsiderate. They knew we’d get off early, but didn’t inform us in advance. Now we’re stuck in this rain,” Feng Jianyu said bitterly.

Xiao Wei added, “Right? They must’ve known long ago. No one from their team even showed up at the cafeteria.”

Just then, an angry voice rang out behind them. “What? You can’t come get me? You expect me to walk home in this storm?”

They turned to see Li Mao, leaning against the glass door, talking on the phone.

He stomped around after hanging up, visibly frustrated. Spotting the Zhenbao team, he approached.

Xiao Wei waved. “Hey! You got stuck too? Missed the main group?”

Li Mao, annoyed, said, “Don’t mention it. I got iced out just because I whispered a bit with you earlier. That nepotist ordered everyone to freeze me out.”

He pouted, boyishly dramatic. “Boo-hoo! Curator Sheng, you have to take responsibility for me now. You’ve got to make sure I get home safely!”

He tugged at Sheng Xia’s sleeve like a clingy puppy.

Xiao Wei batted his hands away. “Hey! Why’s your problem suddenly our Sheng-jie’s problem?”

They bickered playfully. Sheng Xia found his antics funny despite herself.

Just when everyone thought they’d be stuck at the door forever, a black Maybach rolled through the rain, its tires splashing water as it approached slowly.

Li Mao’s eyes widened—he recognized the car instantly.

The car stopped at the foot of the stairs. The rear window lowered.

Feng Jianyu peered in and suddenly exclaimed, “President Qi?!”

His shout turned every head.

The driver’s door opened. A man in a black suit stepped out, umbrella in hand. But the storm was too strong—even the umbrella buckled. Rain soaked his hair and shoulders as he sprinted up the steps and stopped in front of the Zhenbao team.

“Brother Xiao Lü, why are you up here?” Li Mao leaned over, guessing, “Don’t tell me… President Qi sent you to pick us up?”

The driver hesitated for a beat before nodding. “Yes. President Qi saw you all were stranded and asked me to inform you. He said the Zhenbao team has worked hard these past few days, so he’s arranged special transport to take you all home.”

“Yay! We’ve got a ride!”

“President Qi seems pretty nice…”

Xiao Lü added, “The shuttles will take a few minutes to arrive, so please be patient.”

“No problem, we can wait.” Xiao Wei grinned.

The driver did a quick headcount and frowned. “There are only two vehicles, but there are nine people…”

Feng Jianyu immediately offered a solution: “Leave Li Mao here. He’s not one of us. President Qi said this is a service for Zhenbao staff only, right?”

Everyone laughed, agreeing it was a good plan.

Li Mao panicked. “What?! You Zhenbao folks are burning bridges! I got frozen out for you guys!”

Driver Xiao Lü stole a glance at Sheng Xia, then added, “Or… Curator Sheng could ride with President Qi.”

One second, Sheng Xia was smiling at the lighthearted banter. The next, she froze at that suggestion. “I’d rather not…”

“President Qi also wanted to ask you some questions about the Tang Iron exhibit.”

This sentence put Sheng Xia squarely in the spotlight. Wei-jie nudged her, saying gently, “Go on, Xia. I bet President Qi wants to patch things up over what happened this morning.”

Others chimed in. “Yeah, Sheng-jie, go! Tell him everything. Complain about Wang Roujia while you’re at it!”

Sheng Xia was reluctant, but what choice did she have? She looked out at the still-pouring rain and, after a long hesitation, finally said, “Alright, I’ll go.”

She turned to say goodbye. “I’ll head out first. You guys catch the next vehicle. Once everyone’s home, message the group chat, okay?”

“Got it, Sheng-jie. Go on.”

“Good luck, Sheng-jie! Tell President Qi exactly what that woman said!”

Sheng Xia: “…”

Carrying everyone’s hopes, Sheng Xia jogged down the steps toward the Maybach.

Suddenly, strong winds kicked up, flinging raindrops sideways into her face.

Driver Xiao Lü tried to shield her with the umbrella, but halfway down, the wind flipped it inside out.

“Forget the umbrella!” Sheng Xia said, raising her arm to cover her head and dashing into the rain.

She didn’t care if she stepped in puddles—it was pouring anyway. Her shoes were soon soaked, feet freezing. She shivered and ran faster.

When she finally reached the car, she stopped short.

Wiping the rain from her face, her blurred vision cleared—and she met a pair of deep, bright eyes.

President Qi Youbai’s window was still down. Rain and wind poured into the car, drenching his hair, temples, face, and chest. But he seemed unaware, just staring at her silently, for who knew how long.

His lips were pressed tight, his gaze unreadable, with hidden emotions swirling beneath the surface.

Sheng Xia was stunned by his expression, unable to take another step forward.

“Miss Sheng, please get in the car!”

Driver Xiao Lü ran up and urged her.

“Ah… alright…” She answered awkwardly, eyes lowered. She circled around to the front and reached for the passenger door.

A dark-skinned hand stopped her.

“Miss Sheng, please sit in the back. You’re an honored guest.”

He opened the rear door for her considerately.

Sheng Xia thought bitterly, Do I have a choice? Why does this suddenly feel like I’ve boarded a pirate ship…?