Chapter 6 Senior

• It didn’t take long for the other side to arrive.
• The representative was a Frenchman, but the assistant and the remaining bosses were not. Lu Yao thought the taller one among them looked familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she had seen him before.
• The man had recognized her. “Hello, Lu Yao,” he greeted her with a smile.
• The warm, smiling eyes made her remember who he was. The man was her father’s erstwhile student—Xiang Dongnan. He was her senior who used to work in court, but since he moved to Switzerland after his family business’ relocation, he had never come back.
• “Hello, Dongnan.” Lu Yao smiled at him.
• Being in a business negotiation disallowed them from catching up even if they were friends, leaving that to their own downtime.
• Lu Yao sat beside President Chen, interpreting what the representative said after listening to it, repeating the process when President Chen said something to the representative.
• This job required great listening skills. On top of that, the difference between languages might cause a few things to be lost in interpretation. Despite that, Lu Yao tried her best to make the clearest interpretation for the understanding of both sides.
• Whenever the negotiations got to the better parts, they would toast one another. Lu Yao took all the wine for President Chen, but since she was still having her menses, the few glasses of cold drinks made her face drained of color.
• Xiang Dongnan whispered something to the representative when he noticed Lu Yao’s colorless face. Thanks to his help, they drank less after that, and ate more instead. Even so, Lu Yao felt much better as she stayed in the room, which was made warm by the heater.
• The negotiations went smoothly, ending with both sides signing on the contract after nearly an hour and a half of discussion.
• When she saw that she was no longer needed, Lu Yao excused herself after she told President Chen where she was going. She went to the restroom, planning to take some time to smoke. But when she noticed that she didn’t bring her handbag along, she left after washing her hands.
• After going back into the corridor from the restroom, she bumped into Xiang Dongnan.
• “Thanks for the help, Dongnan,” Lu Yao took the initiative to greet him. If it wasn’t for his help, she would have been puking into the lavatory from the alcohol now.
• “Don’t mention it.” Xiang Dongnan smiled. “Keep your hands dry, or you’ll catch a cold.” He handed her a handkerchief from his pocket when he noticed her hands were wet.
• Lu Yao accepted his offer generously. “I used to see you bringing a hanky around.” She wiped her hands dry. “Didn’t expect this habit to still be here,” she teased.
• “I’m used to it, and having a handkerchief around makes hygiene easier.” Xiang Dongnan walked side by side with her as they went back to the room. “I heard what happened to Mr. Lu when I got back here. But I couldn’t contact you because I don’t have your number.”
• Lu Yao was inscrutable. “He deserved it,” she said. “You don’t have to pity him, Dongnan. He’s the one who chose to be corrupt instead of treasuring the power he had.”
• Xiang Dongnan sighed before he handed her his card. “I heard that Mr. Lu’s verdict isn’t out yet. You can ask for my help if you need anything. After all, I did learn from him for a few years back then.”
• Lu Yao hesitated at first, but she still took his card in the end. She had the plan to ask him for some money when she saw him, but two million was a big sum. She couldn’t muster up the courage to ask him, not when her father used to be his teacher. It’s embarrassing, she thought.
• “Sure, I’ll ask for you help if I need anything.” Lu Yao canceled her plan of asking him for money. “I heard that you got married not long after going to Switzerland. How’s your married life?” She changed the topic.
• “Not that well.” A bitter smile appeared on Xiang Dongnan’s icy face. “My wife likes to go around too much, and I couldn’t keep her in check. Men would come and look for her. Her record to date is three men per day. I couldn’t take it, so we got a divorce.”
• Lu Yao was taken aback, for she didn’t expect his life to take that turn. “Don’t you guys have a child? What’s going to happen to your child after the divorce?”
• “I don’t want her to take my daughter down the wrong path, so I gave her half of my assets so that I can get my daughter’s custody. I brought her back with me this time; we’re planning to stay here for a while longer.”
• Xiang Dongnan felt awkward when he noticed Lu Yao was frowning. “Don’t feel embarrassed for asking, Lu Yao.” He smiled. “It’s no big deal. It’s normal for couples who can’t stay together to get a divorce.”
• Lu Yao only smiled, but she said nothing.