Chapter 38

The moment Cheng Li arrived at the company, her colleagues immediately surrounded her, bombarding her with questions about Ren Kuang’s condition.

Rather than repeating herself, Cheng Li decided to wait until everyone had gathered.

“Everyone, Mr. Ren is fine now. Please rest assured,” she began, sharing the good news to ease their concerns.

Although the team occasionally grumbled about overtime or management issues, when faced with a situation like today’s, their worry was genuine. No one wanted to see a heartbreaking accident happen.

When Cheng Li delivered the update, a collective sigh of relief swept through the group.

Clapping her hands to get their attention, Cheng Li said, “Everyone, I’d like to say a few more words.”

The company was currently leaderless: Ren Kuang was in the hospital, and the root cause of the chaos, Gao Zhihe, had gone completely silent. No one could reach him by phone or otherwise.

Although other members of management remained, their positions were largely at the same level, leaving no clear authority.

This was a moment that called for someone to step forward and prevent the company from descending into disarray.

Cheng Li scanned the room, then gave a bitter smile. “It’s only been a day, but it must feel to everyone like we’ve been living in a dream.”

The group exchanged glances, nodding in agreement.

Their small startup had skyrocketed into the spotlight within 24 hours, trending on social media more than it had in the past several years combined.

Unfortunately, the attention wasn’t due to their achievements but because of a scandal.

“I know this isn’t what any of us wanted. We all hoped for a stable work environment and a positive atmosphere. But every company faces challenges of some kind. Ours just happens to be… a bit unconventional this time,” Cheng Li said with a touch of sarcasm, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Some even let out a dramatic “Wow.”

Everyone knew the truth. At a critical moment when the company was seeking funding, Gao Zhihe’s extramarital affair had ruined everything.

Not only had he betrayed his wife and children, but he had also leaked company secrets, undermining the hard work of all his colleagues. He was like a rat in the street—everyone wanted him gone.

Despite this, the team avoided discussing him publicly because he was still the company’s founder and a shareholder.

But now, Cheng Li’s expression shifted. The bitterness and sarcasm disappeared, replaced by determination.

“Running a company is like sailing across vast waters. Encountering storms is inevitable. But I believe our company, Fanhai, isn’t some fragile dinghy that capsizes at the first wave. Even now, as we face challenges, if we work together, we can ride out the storm,” she said firmly.

She paused, her tone softening. “Colleagues, I still want to face this winter with all of you.”

The room fell silent.

Everyone’s eyes were on Cheng Li, surrounded in the center. The confidence and fearlessness in her gaze seemed to ignite something in them. Slowly, someone began clapping, and the applause grew louder and more enthusiastic.

“Ms. Cheng, I want to face this winter with you too!” a male colleague said, his voice tinged with emotion.

“Can we hug?” a female voice suddenly called out.

Cheng Li chuckled. “For women, yes. For men, definitely not.”

Her speech not only reassured her colleagues but also provided a moment of levity in what had been a somber day.

However, after rallying the troops, there was work to be done.

Cheng Li convened a quick meeting with the remaining management: Tang Ruiyuan, a senior member of the tech department; Liu Mingyi, the marketing director; and the head of administration.

“Mr. Ren is currently in the ICU. None of us have been able to visit him, and Ms. Han Xiaolin is accompanying his wife,” Cheng Li explained, providing more details than before.

“Mrs. Ren has never managed company affairs before, so she’s asked me to step in temporarily. Of course, this is just a stopgap measure. Thankfully, our roles are clearly defined. I believe our priority now is to maintain stability and keep things on track. In particular, we must ensure there are no delays or issues with next month’s AI Tech Conference, where we’ve been invited to showcase our work.”

Cheng Li wasn’t someone who sought power for its own sake.

Coming from a technical background, she wasn’t a professional manager.

Her pragmatic approach earned the approval of the others, who all nodded in agreement.

As the meeting adjourned, Liu Mingyi approached her quietly.

“Cheng Li, could we talk in private?”

“Of course.”

The two remained in the conference room.

Liu Mingyi got straight to the point. “Ms. Cheng, you were the one in touch with Zhulian Capital. Is there really no hope left?”

“Funding is on hold,” Cheng Li replied, shaking her head. “As for whether or when it might resume, I honestly don’t know.”

Her bluntness left little room for misinterpretation. Liu Mingyi, being perceptive, understood the implications.

Rather than despair, he offered a different perspective. “Actually, Mr. Ren had always been hesitant about Zhulian Capital. They were our lead investor during the angel round. If they joined this round as well, their equity stake would surpass Mr. Gao’s, making them the company’s second-largest shareholder. This failure might not be the worst thing after all.”

It was common practice for startups to diversify their investors to avoid giving any single entity too much control.

“I hope you’re right,” Cheng Li said.

“There’s one more thing,” Liu Mingyi added.

Cheng Li turned to him.

“Mr. Ren has been meeting with various investment firms frequently lately, and there’s an important dinner scheduled for tomorrow evening.”

Cheng Li frowned. “But Mr. Ren is hospitalized.”

They couldn’t very well wheel him out of the ICU to attend a dinner meeting.

As Cheng Li noticed Liu Mingyi staring at her, a vague sense of unease crept into her heart.

“Actually, Ms. Cheng, you handled yourself really well at the last business dinner,” Liu Mingyi began. “I think in situations like this, it’s especially important to act as if everything is normal. At the very least, I believe this dinner tomorrow shouldn’t be canceled.”

Cheng Li hesitated.

“Besides,” Liu Mingyi continued, “some key investment firm representatives will also be attending. This could be a good opportunity for us to network with them.”

After considering his words, Cheng Li finally nodded in agreement.

By the time she finished handling matters at the office and prepared to go home, it was already past 11 p.m. Standing outside the building, she glanced back at the towering structure behind her, overwhelmed by a mixture of emotions.

She had originally called a ride, but the driver had called earlier, saying he was already downstairs and could pick her up whenever she was ready. It was only then that Cheng Li realized Rong Qi had arranged for his driver to fetch her.

When Cheng Li arrived home, she opened the door to find the house warmly lit. She swapped her shoes for slippers and walked inside, just as a tall figure emerged from the kitchen.

“You…” Cheng Li started to speak, but the strong scent of alcohol stopped her. “Did you drink?”

Rong Qi’s face wasn’t flushed, but his voice carried the huskiness of someone who had been drinking. “Just a bit. That’s why I couldn’t come to pick you up.”

No wonder his driver had come instead.

Whenever Rong Qi was in Shanghai and free in the evenings, he usually picked her up from work. She hadn’t really noticed this habit before because he traveled frequently. But now that she thought about it, it was true.

“With friends?” she asked. She rarely saw him drink.

Rong Qi shook his head. “Business dinner.”

Cheng Li was surprised. “Someone managed to get you to drink?”

“Not forced,” Rong Qi replied, clearing his throat. “The mood called for it.”

Cheng Li understood all too well.

In China’s business culture, drinking was practically unavoidable at social engagements. Many deals weren’t made in boardrooms but at the dining table over glasses of alcohol.

“I’ll make you some honey water,” Cheng Li offered. “I think we have some in the fridge.”

Rong Qi stood quietly, watching as she hurried into the kitchen. She rummaged through the fridge and pulled out a jar of honey citron tea—a type meant to be mixed with water—but found it unopened.

After struggling with the lid for some time, she couldn’t get it to budge.

The lid was far too tight.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind her, and a hand reached over to take the jar. Cheng Li turned and whispered, “Be careful, the lid is really—”

Pop.

Before she could finish her sentence, Rong Qi had effortlessly twisted the lid open.

Cheng Li stared at him, momentarily stunned, then silently took back the jar. She scooped out two spoonfuls of the honey mixture, poured hot water over it, and stirred. Handing him the cup, she said, “Drink some. It’ll help settle your stomach.”

But Rong Qi didn’t move to take it.

Thinking he might refuse, Cheng Li softened her tone. “It tastes good—I drink it often myself. I even asked the housekeeper to get this brand specifically.”

Their housekeeper had asked if there was anything Cheng Li wanted stocked in the kitchen, and after some thought, she’d requested this.

She wasn’t a coffee drinker, but she loved honey citron tea. The housekeeper had promptly bought a jar and placed it in the fridge.

“Hold it higher,” Rong Qi said suddenly.

Cheng Li complied without thinking, lifting the cup slightly.

Without warning, Rong Qi leaned forward, lowering his head to sip directly from the cup she held.

Cheng Li froze.

Her gaze fell on Rong Qi, who leaned casually against the marble kitchen counter, his long legs crossed lazily in front of him. His hands rested idly at his sides, holding nothing.

Realizing she was staring, Rong Qi chuckled quietly, his voice low and amused. “Drank too much earlier. No strength left,” he murmured.

Cheng Li glanced at the jar of honey citron tea on the counter. Its lid lay open nearby, a testament to the strength he’d just claimed to lack.

How could he say something so blatantly untrue? And with such a straight face?

Rong Qi met her accusing gaze without a shred of guilt. Instead, he smiled faintly and added in a casual tone, “I probably used up all my strength opening that lid. My hands feel a bit weak now.”

Fine. Sure. Let him have this one.

Accepting her fate, Cheng Li asked flatly, “Do you want more?”

“I am a bit thirsty,” Rong Qi admitted.

Resigned, Cheng Li raised the cup again. This time, she tilted it slightly toward his lips. Rong Qi’s thin yet soft-looking lips pressed lightly against the rim, taking a slow sip.

Cheng Li blinked, startled by the thought that suddenly crossed her mind: his lips looked kissable.

What was wrong with her? Had she been brainwashed by Rong Qi?

She quickly recalled her earlier slip-up that morning when he caught her staring at his backside.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when she felt the cup shift slightly in her hand. Looking up, she saw Rong Qi watching her intently.

As their eyes met, he smirked, his voice unhurried and teasing. “What were you looking at this time?”

Cheng Li took a deep breath.

“I’ve already told you,” Rong Qi said, his tone laced with lazy amusement and that faint huskiness from the alcohol, “whatever you want to do is perfectly legal.”

Cheng Li replied seriously, “I don’t want to do anything.”

It had been a long and exhausting day, akin to riding a rollercoaster of emotions. She was utterly drained and ready to collapse into bed.

Sensing her fatigue, Rong Qi spoke in a low voice, “Alright, you should get some rest early.”

Cheng Li replied, “It’s fine. You finish your drink first.”

Rong Qi reached out, took the cup from her hand, and said casually, “It seems my hand has recovered a little.”

Cheng Li: “…”

But she was indeed exhausted. After saying goodnight to Rong Qi, she returned to her room.

After taking a shower, she decided to pour herself a glass of water before heading to bed.

However, when she opened her door and stepped out, she noticed that the door to Rong Qi’s room wasn’t fully closed. A faint noise came from inside.

Curious, Cheng Li approached the room.

From the bathroom, she could hear the unmistakable sound of someone vomiting.

He’s throwing up?

As Cheng Li reached the bathroom door, she saw Rong Qi leaning over the sink, his back slightly arched.

Just as she was about to step closer, the bathroom door, which had been ajar, suddenly slammed shut the moment she appeared.

Cheng Li froze for a moment.

Nevertheless, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.

The sound of running water from inside was loud and persistent. It wasn’t until a full two minutes later that the door finally reopened.

Standing before her was Rong Qi, water droplets glistening on his damp bangs and cheeks. There was no unpleasant smell of vomit on him, and even the bathroom behind him seemed odorless, as though he’d sprayed an air freshener.

In fact, the faint fragrance lingering in the air was surprisingly pleasant—though a bit strong.

“Are you alright?” Cheng Li asked with concern.

Rong Qi shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

Cheng Li found it odd. Just moments ago, he’d seemed perfectly fine in the kitchen, and now he’d suddenly thrown up.

“If anything happens during the night, call me,” Cheng Li said earnestly.

Rong Qi’s dark eyes, slightly reddened from drinking, were fixed intently on her.

Despite the redness, his gaze was strikingly clear.

“I don’t think anything will happen,” Rong Qi said slowly, his tone deliberate. “After all, choking to death from alcohol-induced vomiting…” He paused intentionally, then continued word by word, “…isn’t something that would happen to me.”

Huh?

Cheng Li knew such accidents could occur after drinking too much.

She stared into his eyes, but found it impossible to gauge exactly how much he’d had to drink.

After all, just earlier in the kitchen, he’d been cheeky enough to ask her to hold a cup for him to drink from.

But now, here he was, throwing up alone in the bathroom.

After the unexpected incident with Ren Kuang earlier today, Cheng Li suddenly felt that she couldn’t leave Rong Qi alone tonight.

“I’ll stay in your room tonight,” Cheng Li declared decisively.

Rong Qi seemed stunned by her words.

After a moment, he stared into her eyes as if to confirm her intent. Slowly, he asked, “You mean… you want to sleep with me?”

“…”