An Angelic B*tch's Climb Up the Social Ladder - Chapter 18

Chap 18 – Once Again Approaching Him

In Guangye Group’s meeting room one, on the side were floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked most of Beijing.

  
But the executives who sat on both sides of the long table, had no time to appreciate this scenery as they were overwhelmed with questions from Jiang Ting, who was in a suit, opposite them.

  
It has been only two years since the man succeeded his uncle Jiang Mingde in managing Guangye. At first, he was low-key and usually greeted with a faint smile— giving others the impression that he’s harmless and polite.

But not just anyone can be the leader, and those who are leaders may appear harmless, but in actual fact are decisive(firm) in making critical decisions.

  
When the veteran managing board of Guangye let their guard down in Jiang Ting’s warm demeanour- even secretly reported their daily work to Jiang Mingde- Jiang Ting suddenly made a move to uproot all of Guangye’s senior leaders by means of various charges.

  
Since then, the power has changed hands and a new person now calls the shots in the company. The people left behind are all scared to even think of disloyalty.

  
“Nie Wensheng of the Purchasing Department.”Jiang Ting looked up, with a blazing gaze, from the spread-out document before him.

  
The person mentioned felt restless in his seat.

  
“There’s something missing regarding you on this document.” His fingers tapped lightly on the table, “On the 10th of last month, you embezzled one million yuan and bribed the second-in-command of Eastern Zhejiang Province.”

  
He asked, “Do you have resentment towards Guangye?”

  
“This? !” Nie Wensheng almost wanted to call out ‘he’s been wronged’, all walks of life(each profession) have their own rules, hundreds of companies participate to bid at the same time, so how could they not resort to bribery if they wanted to take a piece of meat from the government’s mouth?

  
Besides, there have been rumors that the Jiang family are third-generation reds*; such small amounts of money can only be counted as peanuts, so who would dare disclose this information?
[T/N: Third generation reds here refers to the Jiang family is in its third generation of a politician background.]

  
“Don’t do it under the guise of the company even if you don’t have the ability for your hired position.”

  
“The state has been cracking down on such activities lately, and yet you dare to brace the headwinds and commit an offense. The company will not offer you any protection if you’re found in their investigation.”

  
Nie Wensheng doesn’t dare utter a single word.

  
“You have three days to pack up and leave.”Jiang Ting got up from his seat.

  
Those who were not affected this time only felt a weight off their chest from relief.

  
Once he got back to his office, he loosened his tie and sat down, looking out of the window at the busy traffic downstairs, his jaw tightened in tension.

  
Wang Xun knew that he was not satisfied, the ten years that Jiang Mingde was in charge of Guangye caused it to be rotten at its core. According to Jiang Ting’s temper, he would attempt to clean up the mess, but there are too many people involved– it wouldn’t be an easy task.

  
“MD Jiang, 4:00p.m. at ChangTing Water Banquet— .” Wang Xun briefed him on his afternoon schedule.

  
“Clear the remaining schedule.” Jiang Ting said, “I’m going somewhere this afternoon.”

——
  
63 Building — the tallest landmark in Beijing.

  
63 stories and nearly 260 meters tall, made it enough to overlook the world.

  
It’s a great place to see the night scenery. Situated beside the overhead bridge were the CBD’s densely packed office buildings and the HuCheng River…

  
The lights intertwine with the glittering crystal world, making one feel as if they’ve entered a galaxy full of stars— Could all be seen on the 63 Building.

  
Thus, the Riffett restaurant situated on the 63rd floor had tough reservations, appointments needed to be made more than a month in advance.

  
“Sister Lan, you aren’t lying to me! The customer in room Elegant is so dreamy.” A couple of well-groomed waiters started chatting excitedly after emerging from the private dining room in polite smiles.

  
“You just called him Mr. Jiang. Who is he?”

  
The newly recruited waiter still had the wishful thinking of catching a rich and handsome man. When she pushed the door of the room to see Jiang Ting at the dinner table, her face instantly reddened at the sight of the mature and powerful man that’s as if wine brewed from testosterone.

  
Not to mention the fact that he is in a well-tailored, casual suit, his angled eyebrows and imposing demeanour left her feeling weak in the knees when he glanced over at her.

  
Sister Lan said, “The restaurant will keep the identity of the guests a secret. Did you forget?”

  
“……Okay.”

  
She looked at the two young girls and shook her head.

  
She has spent six years here and has certainly witnessed Jiang Ting’s journey from his teenage days to the current unmoving demeanour.

  
At that time, Mr. Jiang treated others with gentleness, on-lookers could always make out he had a soft spot for Ms Tang in their interactions together.

  
The past four years, he would still dine at Riffett, but there was no longer someone else by his side. Sister Lan had an inkling of what happened and could only sigh.

  
But, she thought internally, he arrived so late this year, thought he wouldn’t come.

  
“Forget him.” Sister Lan saw through her intentions. It is obvious that they and Mr. Jiang are not from the same social class.

  
“Why?” The young girl was a little upset.

  
Sister Lan couldn’t bear breaking her heart, and spoke in a roundabout way, “Haven’t you been asking about the telescope by the window of room Elegant?”

  
“Yeah. Why?”

  
“That’s Mr. Jiang’s private property, it costs $760,000.” She paused and said, “Just to show his girlfriend the stars.”

  
……
  
Jiang Ting, the man they spoke of, stood in front of a window, beneath his feet was a scenery of lights. As he looked up, his face darkened by the faint light was revealed, making it appear even more deeply carved.

  
His emotions were covered behind his long eyelashes and dark pupils.

  
Only the wine glass in hand swirled gently— the blood-red vortex reflected on the window glass.

  
Clearly reflected was also the daubed watercolor painting on the coffee table— that showed a young man and woman snuggling together seeming really harmonious.

  
He just got it this afternoon. The girl had carefully rolled it up and even sincerely tied it up with a bow.

  
“Jiang Ting-gege, why didn’t Yanan-jiejie come?”

[T/N: gege here refers to older brother and jiejie refers to older sister]
  
At the orphanage, Jiang Ting gazed at the girl who’s height had just passed his thigh.

  
The eyes full of naive curiosity looked at him, making him momentarily dumbfounded.

  
“She is busy at work.” He rubbed the girl’s head and said, “She’ll come and see you guys once she’s done.”

  
“It’s been a really long time since she last came.” The child was depressed and asked, “Have you two fought?”

  
Jiang Ting didn’t speak.

  
“So when will you two make up?”

  
The world of an eight-year-old girl doesn’t know what it means to part and say goodbye. She tugged on his sleeve and asked him to make peace.

  
Jiang Ting squatted down, and spoke with a soft voice, “We haven’t quarrelled, she is really busy abroad, I will ask her to visit you guys once she comes back.”

“Really?” Tong Tong was immediately brightened with a smile and handed the gift to Jiang Ting. “Today is Yanan-jiejie’s birthday. This is my gift to her. Jiang Ting-gege, would you give it to her for me?”

  
……
  
Jiang Ting went to the welfare center in the afternoon, and the social welfare institution which would have been closed six years ago, survived because he came to its aid.

  
And the reason why was but a quick glance on the phone.

  
— “Jiang Ting, can we help this welfare center, please?”

  
In the library, the youthful girl hugged his arm and swayed it left and right, actly coyly, “To be asking for social donations, they must be near their wits end, what are those kids going to do if they shut down?”

  
“Miss Tang, I think you should be more concerned about your final exams.” Jiang Ting put down his pen, a hint of smile flashed past in his eyes,
  
“Someone who has retaken linear algebra twice has the extra time to care about others.”

  
“hrmp, you cold-blooded animal!” Tang Yanan pretended to be in a rage, twisted her head and ignored him.

  
Just the sound of the ballpoint pen flying on the paper could be heard, and the girl’s delicate ears could be seen, she seemed really angry.

  
Jiang Ting sighed, “Fine, if you pass linear algebra, I’ll consider it.”

  
“Really?”

  
“Hmm.”

  
“I knew it, Jiang Ting, you’re the best!”

  
………
  
The touch of the coldness in his hands draws Jiang Ting out from his memory, his face reflected in the dark blue glass— a rich dark and gloomy shadow.

To be honest, he is not a man who loves to recall the past. To be able to let bygones be bygones was his life motto.

  
But he couldn’t stop others from reminding him again and again, just like a cold wind whipping through cracked ice.

  
Jiang Ting took a deep hard breath and pushed open the balcony door.

  
On the 63rd floor, the height made it extremely cold. The Beijing cold wind at the end of October blew towards him, he took a deep inhale into his chest— It was icy-cool.

  
Beneath his feet were dots of people like the struggling mayfly and carried a heavyweight on their shoulders like a snail, every inch of light is suffering.

  
Inexplicably, he thought of the words from a certain young girl a few days ago.

  
— “I love the night view of Beijing City from the 63 Building. In the night, the bleakness from the day has faded away to reveal the scenery like a movie of fireworks.”

  
Those words were as naive as her; she was obviously a snail carrying a shell, but still entertained herself with dutch-comfort way— that full of self-confidence and yearning demeanour was as if it’s free of charge(overflowing).

  
Jiang Ting’s lip very slightly upturned, and the coldness in his chest has mostly drifted away because of his wandering mind.

  
He turned around.

  
Doesn’t the saying goes, you shouldn’t nag about others behind their back?

  
Because Jiang Ting had just spotted Lin Zhinan through the misty light.

  
Under the night and cold light, on the observation deck of the 63 Building opposite, a few young people looked out in smiles.

  
At a distance away, the girl in a sweater dress and carrying a satchel bag, held her mobile phone in hand as she took pictures of the night sky and the famous light show of Beijing.

  
Her long hair hung lazily over her shoulders, a few strands of hair shone under the light as it flew in the wind past her delicate nose and cheerful upturned lips filled in delight.

  
She was probably filming a long shot, as she was slowly turning around, her phone was also coincidentally facing Jiang Ting. She paused mid-movement when she spotted the tall figure on her video screen.

  
The phone was put down and the girl looked towards him in surprise. After a few seconds, she ran towards the edge of the railing, waving her arms with her eyes lit up brightly.

  
“Jiang . Mr. Jiang? !” Zhinan’s palms were by her lips as she asked happily, “Why are you here, Mr. Jiang?”

  
tsk, wanted to call me Jiang Ting again.

As they looked at each other more than 10 meters away, he could guess her intentions clearly as if he had peered into her mind.