The secretary knocked on the door of the chairman's office, and after a moment, she turned sideways and said to Kong Liji behind her, "Chairman Kong."
Kong Liji followed the secretary into the office. Ren Hongru was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window talking to someone on the phone. Seeing Kong Liji, he signaled him to sit down with his eyes.
Kong Liji did not sit down but stood to one side waiting.
A minute later, Ren Hongru finished his phone call.
"Have a seat."
At this time, the secretary brought in tea. After she left, Ren Hongru spoke up.
"Liji, what do you think of our North City branch?"
After pondering for a while, Kong Liji said, "The government provides great support there with good prospects for development."
He watched his father-in-law's expression carefully. Seeing no objection, he went on to analyze the market conditions, national policies, and current international market trends in detail.
Seeing a satisfied look on his father-in-law's face, Kong Liji became more eloquent.
"Have some tea."
Unknowingly, half an hour had passed. Kong Liji also felt thirsty, so he took a sip of tea.
"Liji, you and Suya have been married for nineteen years now, right?"
"Yes, Chairman Ren."
"Drop the formality in private."
"Alright, Dad," Kong Liji readily called him.
"Liji, I'm getting old now and don't have the energy of you young people anymore." Ren Hongru sighed about the passing years aging him.
"Dad, don't say that. You are still young."
Ren Hongru laughed and waved his hand. "From now on, you'll need to pay more attention to the big and small affairs of the group."
Kong Liji understood best what he meant by that. He suppressed his excitement and remained outwardly calm.
"I still have a lot to learn under you, Dad."
Ren Hongru nodded in satisfaction. "I've been watching your performance at the company over the years and haven't forgotten any of it. The branch needs someone to take charge."
Kong Liji's heart skipped a beat. Being sent away meant he would lose control over some matters at the headquarters.
Before he could object, he heard Ren Hongru continue, "The branch concerns the direction of the company's development over the next decade. I don't feel assured letting anyone else go. Go keep an eye on things over there for Dad."
"Dad, North City is so far from Haishi. If I go, Suya and..."
Ren Hongru waved his hand to interrupt him. "I spoke to some of the directors last week about you joining the board."
Hearing this, Kong Liji immediately perked up.
He had already gotten news about this from his confidants.
"The board thinks you are still young. I'm getting old, and this company will eventually be handed to you. But whether it can be smoothly handed to you depends on your ability. Go do well at the branch, produce results, and convince the board. Your mother and I can then comfortably retire."
The implication was obvious.
Good performance at the branch meant Ren Hongru's retirement and Kong Liji inheriting Asia Star Group.
The branch's results were like a springboard for him to get on the board.
With things said to this point, how could Kong Liji not agree? Although he didn't like going to the branch, it was a test.
As long as he passed the test, Asia Star Group would be his. His years of planning would also succeed.
He suppressed his excitement and readily agreed, "Dad, I will work hard."
Ren Hongru stood up and patted his shoulder. "Work hard and don't let me down."
"I will strive to produce results and live up to your cultivation."
Ren Hongru nodded in satisfaction. "Go on and get busy."
Kong Liji left the chairman's office in high spirits.
Back in his office, Kong Liji couldn't wait to share the good news. He took out a spare phone from the depths of his drawer and dialed a number. A gentle female voice came from the receiver.
"Liji."
"Fengru, the old guy finally relented. Our plan will soon succeed, and then we can be together forever." Kong Liji tried to keep his tone calm, but the excitement in his voice was still apparent.
Ruan Fengru was equally delighted on the other end of the phone. "Really?"
They were finally going to clear the clouds to see the bright moon.
"I'll come see you tonight."
"Okay."
In recent days, his wife and daughter had been staying at the villa halfway up the mountain. This made Kong Liji very uncomfortable. Every time he went to the villa, he felt ill at ease.
It was just the right opportunity to take a breather in Sucheng under the guise of a business trip.
"I'll send you an address in a bit. Come over tonight."
Ruan Fengru shyly agreed, "Alright, I'll head over first."
In a five-star hotel in Sucheng, Ruan Fengru wore sexy lingerie and opened the door barefoot.
Seeing her clothing under the bathrobe, Kong Liji's eyes darkened. He threw down his luggage, closed the door, and eagerly kissed her.
That night, the two were like they had returned to their youth. However, unbeknownst to them, someone had clearly captured everything on camera.
-
The monthly exam came as scheduled, and the high school seniors were not nervous at all about the test. All their attention was on Ren Ran and Kong Lian.
"Ranran, do your best," Zhao Yi cheered her on.
Guo Tongwen chimed in, "You must overtake that little green tea."
Ren Ran smiled and nodded slightly.
By chance, Ren Ran and Kong Lian were assigned to the same exam room.
The exam format followed the gaokao model with the whole grade mixed up and interleaved seating.
Ren Ran sat in the second row on the left, third seat.
Kong Lian sat in the last second seat of the front row on the right.
When the bell rang, everyone buried their heads to work on the test.
Kong Lian glanced at the girl in front brushing her pen quickly and the corners of her lips turned up.
Coming out of the exam room, Zhao Yi and Guo Tongwen crowded around.
"How was it?"
This immediately drew the attention of surrounding classmates, and many pricked up their ears to listen.
"Normal performance."
"Ah, not outstanding performance?" Guo Tongwen was worried. If Kong Lian that little troublemaker won, it would be playing right into her hands. But thinking about how difficult the exam questions really were this time, "The questions were pretty hard this time. Kong Lian probably didn't do too well either."
After two consecutive days of exams, it was just the weekend when they finished. Ren Ran relaxed and unwound.
The exam results would be announced next week.
Before the release, everyone was guessing who between the two had won and lost.
On Monday during the second English class, everyone was surprised to see the new face who entered the classroom.
"Huh, where did Teacher Lin go?"
"Is Teacher Lin sick?"
Homeroom teacher Old Zhao lightly coughed for attention and signaled for quiet.
"Your Teacher Lin had a family matter. For now, Teacher Gao will be substituting."
The students below understood.
Teacher Gao also taught English for seniors, so they didn't have any objections. Even if they did, it wouldn't matter.
Hearing the concern for Lin Wenshan from surrounding students, Kong Lian scorned in her heart.
