Plunder-Chapter 162 An Jinrong

Qiao En seemed to have guessed that the person’s last name was An.

As for whether it was An Jinhua or An Kexin, she was not too sure.

The car sped along the asphalt road, and soon they arrived at the restaurant where they were to dine.

From a distance, Qiao En could see An Jinhua.

He was dressed in a custom-made, silver-grey business suit, tall and straight-backed. It had been more than half a year since their last meeting, and he appeared even more triumphant than before.

"Director Zhou, long time no see!"

An Jinhua took the initiative and extended his hand, his sly eyes sweeping over Zhou Jin’an’s body before settling on Qiao En.

Zhou Jin’an kept a cold face, his deep eyes casually flicking past An Jinhua.

"Didn’t we just meet a few days ago? President An, are you so forgetful?"

He snorted coldly, not taking An Jinhua’s hand and heading straight into the private room.

An Jinhua forced a smile, "A single day apart feels like three seasons have passed; moreover, we haven’t seen each other for several days."

"President An’s words are incorrect."

Zhou Jin’an incisively corrected, "I seem to recall being taught in school that this phrase could describe the deep longing between lovers, or the fondness between good teachers and helpful friends. President An and I are neither lovers nor good teachers and helpful friends."

An Jinhua’s face was somewhat unable to maintain composure, "Heh, if Director Zhou says so, then so be it."

Qiao En and Cheng Lu followed Zhou Jin’an into the private room. Yao Jian was not yet present. The two people who came with An Jinhua were both known to Qiao En. One was the Sales Director of An Corporation, the other was Xu Mei.

As soon as Qiao En sat down, An Jinhua’s remarks targeted her.

"If I remember correctly, isn’t Director Zhou’s secretary Chen Yin? And who might this be?"

He deliberately lengthened the tone of his voice, narrowing his eyes as he sized up Qiao En.

"Xu Yayun, the current secretary to Director Zhou, I’ve met President An."

Qiao En stood up, greeted An Jinhua with composure and grace.

"Secretary Xu?"

An Jinhua called out in an amused manner.

His tone was strange, causing the two people he brought to turn their full attention to Qiao En.

Especially Xu Mei, whose sharp eyes seemed to want to see right through Qiao En.

Zhou Jin’an’s expression immediately darkened.

"Let’s talk business."

An Jinhua leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on the armrest, his well-defined fingers intermittently tapping on the armrest.

"No rush, the leader in charge of the Jinghuan relocation project was just determined, and I went to great lengths to invite him over today. He will be arriving shortly; let’s wait a bit more."

The Jinghuan reconstruction project was a key initiative led by the government, involving the transformation of urban villages and the construction of a commercial and cultural complex. A few days ago, Nanchen won the bid, and later, An Corporation was also selected.

The reason Zhou Jin’an and An Jinhua were meeting today was to discuss the development of the Jinghuan reconstruction project.

Zhou Jin’an did not respond, and An Jinhua could not continue.

Everyone in the room lowered their gaze, holding their cups, each harboring their own agenda.

The door to the private room was open, and the air pressure inside was extremely low.

Zhou Jin’an sat upright, his thin lips pressed tightly into a solitary, cold arc.

Qiao En and Cheng Lu sat on either side of him, their expressions identical to his.

An Jinhua’s gaze lifted again, focusing on Qiao En.

"Secretary Xu, where did you previously work at such a high profile?"

He asked casually, as if inconsequential, but his real intent was to probe Qiao En’s background.

"None of your business; manage your own people."

Suddenly, Zhou Jin’an spoke up, bluntly retorting An Jinhua.

An Jinhua did not get angry, a capricious smile remaining on his face.

"Why is Director Zhou so sensitive? Once the Jinghuan project starts, An Corporation and Nanchen will inevitably have to deal with each other often. Seeing that Secretary Xu is new to us, isn’t it just about getting familiar? It’s also for laying the groundwork for future cooperation, don’t you think, Secretary Xu?"

"A small place, not worth mentioning."

Qiao En responded calmly.

"I hear that Secretary Xu’s hometown is Gu Yuan? That’s a place of outstanding people and remarkable land."

Xu Mei suddenly spoke up.

Qiao En’s heart tightened.

She had dealt with Xu Mei before, who was a shrewd and astute person, a capable assistant to An Jinhua.

Today was Qiao En’s first day on the job, but the other party had already figured out her background.

Xu Mei’s probing was nothing more than to test Qiao En’s reaction.

"Yes, thank you for the undue praise, Manager Xu."

Qiao En kept her reply concise.

She was the youngest among this group, but she was capable of keeping her composure.

Xu Mei chuckled lightly, "When you have the time, I wonder if Secretary Xu would like to invite us to visit?"

Qiao En did not smile; she picked up her cup and sipped lightly, "Whether or not I want to go with you has nothing to do with it. If you want to go, feel free anytime. However, I am quite busy and am afraid I won’t have the time to extend an invitation to you."

Her response was firm, clarifying her stance.

Xu Mei’s face showed a trace of awkwardness.

But she was a shrewd one, "I feel like Secretary Xu looks familiar, as if I’ve seen her somewhere before?"

[Let’s go to the restroom.]

Qiao En’s phone buzzed at that moment, and she flipped it open to check the message—it was from Zhou Jin’an.

Xu Mei’s intention was clear; she wanted to publicly dig into Qiao En’s background.

And her background could not withstand scrutiny.

Qiao En understood and excused herself, "I’m going to the restroom."

She whispered a greeting to Zhou Jin’an, who slightly nodded in acknowledgment.

Not long after Qiao En had left, Xu Mei, clutching her phone, stepped out of the private room as well.

In the restroom, Xu Mei cornered Qiao En.

"Congratulations on the promotion, Secretary Xu!"

She stood by the washbasin touching up her makeup, her eyes harboring ill intent.

Upon appearing in Rong City, Qiao En had been a janitor at Nanchen, but in less than a month, she had skyrocketed to the position of chief secretary to Zhou Jin’an.

The news spread quickly.

Though Xu Mei wasn’t at Nanchen, she had clearly done her homework in advance.

"Thanks."

Qiao En responded coolly, washing her hands before trying to leave.

Xu Mei’s voice reached her again, "Secretary Xu, I always feel that you resemble someone."

"Manager Xu, what do you mean by that? Am I not a person standing here? If Manager Xu thinks I’m not a person, then what am I?"

Qiao En sneered, turning back to look at Xu Mei.

She spoke rapidly and her words were sharp.

Xu Mei was caught off guard and hastily explained, "Ah, Secretary Xu, that’s not what I meant. I’m saying that you look very much like one of Director Zhou’s former secretaries."

Women’s powers of observation are often more meticulous than men’s, and Qiao En had changed her appearance thoroughly. If one didn’t look closely, it would be impossible to detect any traces of Qiao En in her.

But Xu Mei was meticulous, and she had still managed to discern something was amiss. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Now that Manager Xu mentions it, I also think you look very much like someone I once knew. Sadly, she’s dead."

Qiao En turned the tables.

Xu Mei hadn’t expected Qiao En, a newcomer, to dare to confront her like this.

She managed a PR company and had met countless people, yet no one had ever dared to be so arrogant in front of her.

As Xu Mei re-entered the private room, the waitress was coming over to confirm the order.

Qiao En was instructing the waiter about something, but Xu Mei did not hear it.

No sooner had she sat down than the distinguished guest arrived.

"Director Zhou, sorry for being late; I got tied up with official duties."

A deep male voice echoed at the entrance.

Qiao En looked towards the entrance and saw the scholarly An Jinrong making an appearance.

He was around forty, with silver at his temples, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

He had a tall and slightly plump figure, and while walking in, he already reached out his hand toward Zhou Jin’an.

"Hello, President An."

Zhou Jin’an shook his hand, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

"It was quite sudden for me to be reassigned back to Rong City this time; I never thought I’d have the chance to return to our Rong City in this life. Director Zhou, as soon as I came back, I wanted to meet with you, but I was so busy I couldn’t find the time. Today, I just happened to be free, and as soon as Jinhua mentioned it to me, I immediately canceled my other engagements to come here."

An Jinrong was An Jinhua’s half-brother from the same father, more than a decade his senior, and had been working in the capital previously.

Qiao En had heard about him, but this was her first time seeing him.

But upon first meeting, his hidden aura struck her immediately.

"Please, take a seat, President An."

Zhou Jin’an was polite and gestured for An Jinrong to sit down.

"For this project, I’ve been appointed to take the lead. Nanchen and An Corporation are the two leading enterprises in Rong City. The Jinghuan redevelopment project is a heavy responsibility with great difficulty. I’ve considered it for a long time and feel that a joint partnership between our two companies would advance the project more effectively. Director Zhou, what do you think?"

He was asking Zhou Jin’an’s opinion on a matter that had already been decided upon.

The question seemed a bit odd.

"Big brother, rest assured, I will not let you down."

An Jinhua intervened.

"Am I speaking to you now?"

The previously genteel and warm An Jinrong suddenly changed his demeanor.

His inscrutable eyes hid behind the glass lenses, chilling to the bone.

An Jinhua immediately fell silent.

An Jinrong’s gaze slowly turned back to Zhou Jin’an, waiting for his acquiescence.

"I’ll follow President An’s arrangements."

Zhou Jin’an gave his response, his taut face instantly blooming into a chrysanthemum of smiles.

"Then, you’ll have to work hard this time, Director Zhou. When you handle affairs, I have complete confidence in you. If the job is done well, you’ll benefit, and I’ll gain a reputation; we both win. But if it’s messed up—"