“Alright, let’s not gather here. Xiao Qiao is embarrassed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not reject anyone who has talents. Great waves wash away the sand. We must remember that gold will dazzle and shine eventually.” He praised Qiao Nan and gave a gentle reminder to Deng Wenchang. Then, He Yi told the people who gathered around Qiao Nan to disperse.
He Yi was elated. Qiao Nan’s good performance proved that he was right to allow her to do her internship in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although it was unprecedented and was a bold move, what was important was that Qiao Nan had the abilities. Whatever that he did was to recruit talents for the ministry and it was understandable for him to take such a daring move.
On the other hand, Deng Wenchang felt extremely displeased.
Qiao Nan mocked him, saying that they had no common grounds or common topics. He Yi also praised Qiao Nan, saying that she was the gold that would shine and bedazzle everyone in the end, while he was the useless sand that was overshadowed by her and would be eliminated.
He reminded himself that this was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and He Yi was the minister. Although he suspected that Qiao Nan and He Yi were involved in immoral dealings and hence Qiao Nan was allowed to do her internship in the ministry, up until today, he did not have any evidence to prove that they had extramarital affairs.
If he had any proof, he would blow up the matter in the ministry, making sure that He Yi and Qiao Nan made an apology to him and begged for forgiveness.
Deng Wenchang was boiling in anger while Qiao Nan felt happy that she had gotten back at him. She was invited to lunch by He Yi. “Senior, you can go ahead to ask the questions that you have in mind. If you continue to stare at me, I might have indigestion.”
He Yi smiled. “You are young and your job requires a lot of brainpower. You must have more of the food. I ordered most of the food for you. If you don’t have them, you will be wasting my good intentions.”
Qiao Nan did not stand on ceremony with He Yi, both in terms of the food and whatever that she said to him. “Senior, since you know that my job requires a lot of brainpower, why do you allow people like Deng Wenchang to stay in the ministry? If Deng Wenchang is down-to-earth, I will have nothing to say about him, but he is overambitious, unrealistic, proud, and arrogant. He could not take any criticism. Are you trying to make life difficult for general workers like us by placing him in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”
She believed that her senior could tell that the older colleagues in the department disliked Deng Wenchang. It was impossible that her senior had worse insight than her.
He Yi smiled lightly. “The more the merrier. Besides, I know Deng Wenchang’s father personally. He sought me for help and I couldn’t possibly reject him. I asked a favor of them a few years ago.” He was returning the favor. Otherwise, he could not be bothered with a foolish and arrogant young man like Deng Wenchang.
Qiao Nan did not agree with him. “Senior, don’t tell me that you don’t know what Deng Wenchang is hatching? This could not be taken lightly. It may hurt you. As the saying goes, it’s impossible to be on guard against someone forever. Don’t you feel that Deng Wenchang will be a threat to you if he keeps on working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?” Deng Wenchang was too ambitious.
He Yi told Qiao Nan to have more meat and vegetables. “Little junior, you have underestimated me. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is my territory. What can Deng Wenchang be up to? If I cannot control a young lad like him, there is no need for Deng Wenchang to usurp me and my master will remove me before that.”
He was no longer young. If he was framed and usurped by a young lad, his master would not be able to tolerate it. His master could not stand useless people.
He Yi knew the Deng family well. He did not think that Deng Wenchang would be able to usurp him with the Deng family’s help. If the Deng family had more influence, Deng Wenchang would not have set his sights on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and his position.
Qiao Nan finally realized why He Yi was so confident that he was able to control Deng Wenchang. Qiao Nan thought for a while before she dabbed her fingers with some water and wrote ‘Peng’ on the table. “The Deng family is no fool. They knew that they do not have the influence. Therefore, they will find ways to cozy up to someone powerful. Senior, you had better be careful.”
There was a glitter in He Yi’s eyes when he saw the word. It turned out that this was why the Deng family was emboldened. “Little junior, thank you. I had no idea of this. If not for your reminder, although they would not succeed in the end, I might suffer a hard blow. Alright, I know what I am doing. Don’t worry.”
He was almost deceived by the Deng family. Deng Wenchang addressed him as uncle and master. He was led to believe that Deng Wenchang wanted to make use of his father’s relationship with him, and for him to help him in his career advancement.
It turned out that the Deng family was feigning one thing while doing another!
He Yi, who almost fell for their trap, was no longer as nonchalant as how he was half an hour ago. Previously, he did not take the Deng family seriously and he looked down on Deng Wenchang, treating him like a useless clown.
But if he was not careful, he might fail miserably in a very easy task.
Qiao Nan could tell that He Yi finally took the issue of the Deng family seriously. She could put her mind at ease. Peng Yu was a difficult opponent. Since Peng Yu pulled the Deng family to his side, the Deng family must have their use. If they underestimated the enemy, they might suffer in the end.
After lunch, Qiao Nan and He Yi had just left the private room when they encountered Deng Wenchang and two other older colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Deng Wenchang looked smug. “Minister He, did you and Qiao Nan have lunch by yourself? Why didn’t you ask us to join you? The more the merrier.”
The two older colleagues who were dragged to a lunch treat by Deng Wenchang looked at each other. They seemed to have been made use of by Deng Wenchang. Deng Wenchang was not sincere in treating them to lunch. His real motive was to bring them with him to round up the minister and Comrade Xiao Qiao.
There was obvious mockery in Deng Wenchang’s words. Everyone could tell that Deng Wenchang was hinting that something was going on between Qiao Nan and He Yi.
A single man and a single woman together in a secluded setting—it was inappropriate!