The Scheming Ex-Husband's Courtship
Chapter 211 - 199: Even the Shrewdest Have Weaknesses

Chapter 211: Chapter 199: Even the Shrewdest Have Weaknesses

The meeting had just concluded; people had not yet dispersed when Li Ruhai suddenly called out, and everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice.

"Qili, is that fat uncle calling you?" Zhu Ping gently tugged on her sleeve.

Gu Qili thought to herself, how did Li Ruhai come to the restaurant, and would he say something in front of so many people.

As she worried, Guo Jun hurriedly stepped forward with brisk paces, calling out enthusiastically, "President Li."

Then, everyone also noticed the work badge hanging around Li Ruhai’s neck,

A very high-ranking official.

Li Ruhai glanced at him, slightly nodded his head, and disregarded the hand Guo Jun had extended. He passed by the stiff-faced Guo Jun and went straight to Gu Qili with a smile, asking, "Miss Gu, are you available now?"

Gu Qili quickly replied, "I still have work to do, President Li, could you...?"

Li Ruhai interrupted her and turned his head towards the ashen-faced Guo Jun, saying, "I would like to talk to Miss Gu about some matters, is that alright?"

Guo Jun immediately nodded vehemently, "Yes yes yes, of course there’s no problem."

After speaking, he even flashed Qili a very amiable smile, "Qili, President Li looking for you must be for something very important, let others handle the work here, go ahead with him quickly."

Gu Qili and Li Ruhai left first, and as they exited the door, Li Ruhai kindly opened it for her. Everyone thought about the vast difference in their positions; shouldn’t this be the other way around?

"Does Qili know President Li?" Several colleagues couldn’t hold back their curiosity and gathered around Zhu Ping. Since Zhu Ping was relatively close to Qili, everyone thought she would know.

Zhu Ping awkwardly smiled and said, "That, I really don’t know, you can ask Qili yourself."

"I think Qili’s background must be not simple, first the president himself visited incognito, and now a high official like President Li is showing such honor and respect in front of her." Some colleagues speculated quietly.

"Stop making wild guesses. If Qili really had such a strong background, would she be working as a waitress with us? And still get all kinds of trouble and scolding from Supervisor Guo every day? Look at her, always bearing and forbearing. If she had a background, she would have fired Supervisor Guo long ago." Another colleague immediately refuted the others’ assumptions.

Everyone was talking back and forth until Guo Jun walked over with irritation, "Not working anymore? Don’t you want this month’s bonus?"

At these words, everyone scattered in an instant.

Zhu Ping looked in the direction Gu Qili had left and silently picked up the plate in her hand and began wiping it.

Gu Qili and Li Ruhai didn’t go far and talked in the lounge outside the restaurant.

Li Ruhai placed the self-recommendation letter he had urgently drafted the night before on the table, underlining some parts and annotating others.

"Miss Gu, I think this part could be further improved," Li Ruhai pointed with his pen, "What do you think?"

"President Li, just call me by my name."

"How could I do that?" Li Ruhai chuckled.

"Actually, it’s like this. I don’t really want my colleagues to know about my relationship with Young Master Qian. You’re a sensible person; you should understand." Gu Qili looked at him with a clear gaze and a hint of pleading, "Please."

Though Li Ruhai didn’t understand the rationale, since she had put it that way, he had no choice but to nod, "I understand now."

"Also, President Li, I am your subordinate now, and I will completely follow your orders. You don’t have to make allowances for me because of Young Master Qian. If guidance is needed, then guide; if criticism is warranted, then criticize."

Li Ruhai nodded repeatedly, but inwardly, he shook his head. Although she said that, how could he dare? What Gu Qili meant to Mu Shuoqian, others might not know, but he saw it all too clearly. Even if the president’s wife was magnanimous, he wouldn’t dare to stir trouble right under Tai Sui’s nose. Thus, the task President Mu assigned him was indeed as bitter as could be.

The two of them revised several parts of the self-recommendation letter, and then Gu Qili went back to work.

As she was leaving, Li Ruhai suddenly reminded her, "Miss Gu, remember to delete your email records. This self-recommendation letter is high-level confidential material for the company; don’t give others a chance to exploit it."

"Yes, I understand, President Li."

As soon as she entered the restaurant, she heard Qi Meihui’s voice, filled with uncontrollable annoyance: "Her? Why her? A little girl fresh out of childhood, what qualifications does she have to take on such an important responsibility? Does the president not see me, the French Restaurant manager, in his eyes at all?"

Guo Jun also followed suit with righteous indignation, adding fuel to the fire: "Manager Qi, you’re right. I thought that for such a major matter, you would certainly be personally involved. I didn’t expect those above to just assign it to her, what merits does she have?"

Their voices were not quiet, and several employees also overheard them. So everyone began discussing in private, saying that Manager Qi was being neglected while those higher up seemed to favor the recently joined Gu Qili.

Gu Qili ignored those two people and returned to her post to continue working.

Qi Meihui was filled with repressed anger, and despite her intense focus on washing cups, Qi Meihui couldn’t find any reason to pick a fight with her, lest she provide others with an excuse to criticize her.

With repressed anger, Qi Meihui returned to her office and immediately picked up the phone to call Mu Hewen.

"What on earth does Mu Shuoqian want to do? Does he really want to shit on our heads? Do you know, he’s actually letting Gu Qili handle it? Who does she think she is? Does she have the qualifications? There’s no way it’s her turn to do this!"

After Qi Meihui rattled off everything in one breath, there was no response from Mu Hewen on the other end. She furrowed her brows, raising her voice, "Mu Hewen, are you dead? Didn’t you hear me talking?"

After a while, Mu Shuoqian’s voice finally came through, seeming to be in a very enclosed space, exceptionally quiet in the background.

"I know all about what you’ve said."

"You know? Then why didn’t you tell me?"

"Don’t get angry, the thing is, Mu Shuoqian said, if this tender doesn’t succeed,

Qi Meihui was shocked, asking incredulously, "Are you sure Mu Shuoqian said that himself? He’s never been impulsive, how could he say such a thing?"

"Of course, he said it himself, and there were several executives present at that time." Mu Hewen laughed exaggeratedly, "Honey, even the astute Mu Shuoqian has his weaknesses. Just provoke him a bit, and he falls for it. Look, this is a golden opportunity for us."

"I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

"Honey, you’re usually so smart but occasionally naive. Think about it, Dad values this tender so much. If we do something to sabotage it and prevent it from being successful, not only can we make room for our own hands, but also severely damage Dad’s impression of him. Why not pursue such an opportunity that kills two birds with one stone?"

Having heard Mu Hewen’s words, the anger Qi Meihui had felt seemed to dissipate, and after contemplating for a moment, she sneered, "Mu Hewen, you’re not entirely useless, are you? Still, you have some use in critical times. But have you thought of a detailed plan?"

"Of course, I’ve prepared for this long ago."

After the call with Qi Meihui ended, Mu Hewen slid the balcony door open and entered the bedroom, where Hu Jiaojiao was getting dressed. Seeing her alabaster back, Mu Hewen couldn’t resist pouncing on her from behind, "Baby, up so early?"

"You want more? You almost killed me last night." Hu Jiaojiao coquettishly complained, but Mu Hewen still pinned her down.

Mu Hewen was in high spirits, lifting her chin and saying, "Don’t worry, soon you’ll be mine, and then, whether it’s a position as a French translator or even a vice president, I’ll fulfill your wish."

Hu Jiaojiao laughed dryly twice. She had no interest in being a vice president or anything like that; what she always wanted was to be as close to Mu Shuoqian as possible. And as for Mu Hewen, she wished she could kick him all the way to Mars.

"Then congratulations in advance, President Mu."

"You do know the right things to say, baby, ha ha. Come here, baby."

～

Soon, the day of the self-recommendation conference arrived. Early in the morning, Gu Qili prayed silently in her heart, hoping everything would go smoothly and she’d win big this time.

Mu Shuoqian was away on a business trip and had not returned. Without him by her side, Gu Qili still felt somewhat nervous; after all, it was her first time participating in such an important tender.

Before the meeting started, she checked the self-recommendation letter with Li Ruhai and his assistant in the lounge several times over.

Li Ruhai was seasoned in such affairs and had seen many similar events, but this time was different—it was directly related to whether the president’s position could be retained. The president entrusting him with such a critical task demonstrated his trust in Li, so he had to give it his all.

At that moment, Li Ruhai straightened his clothes and went out with Gu Qili to greet everyone.

Five or six other people were standing in the hall, sent from the other three hotels. Even though they were competitors, they recognized each other as they were in the same industry, so they greeted one another.

Someone noticed Gu Qili beside Li Ruhai and jokingly said, "President Li, is this beautiful lady your new assistant?"

Li Ruhai immediately denied it seriously, "No, this is Miss Gu Qili, who is in charge of this tender with me."

With such an important introduction from Li Ruhai, others naturally dared not take it lightly and shook hands with Gu Qili.

After some more pleasantries, the entrance was pushed open. Two people resembling bodyguards escorted a tall figure,

"No way, it really is him." Gu Qili muttered as if awakening from a dream, which made Li Ruhai scratch his nose, unclear about the situation.