Chapter 37: Not Necessarily

Yao Jia handed the phone to Lin Qian, who pulled up a chair and sat behind Yao Jia to take the call.

Lin Qian first calmed the customer’s emotions, then patiently explained that the issue needed to be handled by Heyi.com first. The installation fee in question had nothing to do with Kunyu Electric, so only Heyi.com could resolve it. This was not Kunyu Electric shirking responsibility. Furthermore, Kunyu Electric would not sit idly by.

“We will communicate and negotiate with Heyi.com to remove the option to purchase paid installation services for products where the manufacturer is responsible for free installation.”

The customer accepted Lin Qian’s explanation and hung up.

Yao Jia increasingly felt that she was lacking the expertise of a master customer service representative like Lin Qian.

After hanging up, Yao Jia remarked, “Team Leader, what kind of situation is this? It’s not Kunyu’s fault, yet they try to pin it on us.”

Speaking of which, the big boss of Heyi.com, who was visiting Kunyu today to meet with the big boss Yao Bingkun, was none other than Wen Zhihe.

The connections in the world are truly mysterious. The boss of Heyi.com arrives, and so do the troubles from Heyi.com via phone.

Lin Qian advised Yao Jia, “This isn’t the first time this has happened, and it’s a bit troublesome to handle. When you encounter a customer like today—emotional but ultimately willing to listen—it’s actually easier to resolve. Sometimes, you meet those who are unreasonable and insist Kunyu Electric pay for the installation fee. That’s truly a headache. If you encounter any issues related to Heyi.com in the future, just call me, and I’ll handle it.”

Yao Jia agreed, then casually complained, “Relying on explanations isn’t a solution. It’s treating the symptoms, not the root cause. The real problem is that Heyi.com needs to stop doing this. Heyi.com is also at fault, making people spend money they don’t need to, just to make a profit, and then making Kunyu take the blame. It’s really annoying.”

Nearby, Meng Xingzhe suddenly coughed loudly, in an exaggerated manner. Yao Jia found him annoying, making such inexplicable noise while others were discussing serious matters.

Taking advantage of the moment when no calls were coming in, Lin Qian spoke a bit more with Yao Jia, “Actually, you can’t entirely blame Heyi.com. I asked around privately. The paid installation services they offer are often provided by workers who are either struggling financially or have minor disabilities, like a limp. Heyi.com is doing a good deed, but they’re forcing it a bit, not giving customers the choice. If they explained the situation, I’m sure kind-hearted customers would choose the paid installation service voluntarily.”

Yao Jia felt a bit conflicted.

Yes, she remembered the customer on the phone mentioning that the technician who installed her air conditioner had a limp in his left leg.

“Well, okay,” Yao Jia said. “Without investigation, there’s no right to speak. It seems Wen Zhihe might be a good person.”

“Not necessarily,” Lin Qian said with a smile.

Nearby, Meng Xingzhe coughed again, clearing his throat as if something was stuck in it.

His conspicuous coughing drew the attention of both Yao Jia and Lin Qian.

Lin Qian was about to ask Meng Xingzhe if his throat was uncomfortable.

But their gaze only lingered on Meng Xingzhe for a moment before being drawn to the figures standing in the corridor.

Yao Jia sensed Lin Qian’s breath tighten beside her.

The corridor had never seemed so grand and dignified before. Even Li Wangli standing there seemed like the lowest-ranking pawn.

Among the group of people in suits, leading them were Yao Bingkun and Qiu Lishi, the top executives of Kunyu Electric. When Yao Jia glanced over, Yao Bingkun’s eyes didn’t linger on her at all, as if he had never known her or intended to. Yao Jia brushed aside the slight pang in her heart, thinking it was better he didn’t notice her. If he did, he would probably reprimand her with his eyes for expressing random opinions during work hours.

Next to Yao Bingkun and Qiu Lishi was a tall, handsome man, looking over at Yao Jia and Lin Qian with a faint smile.

Yao Jia took a couple more glances at this man with the faint smile.

She thought he was extremely good-looking, almost comparable to Meng Xingzhe. But he was different; while Meng Xingzhe was strikingly handsome, this man was elegantly refined.

At this moment, Li Wangli stepped forward to smooth things over, smiling warmly, “President Yao, Director Qiu, shall I take President Wen to visit the major client service department next door?”

Upon hearing this title, Yao Jia realized that the man in front of her was the legendary business tycoon, Wen Zhihe.

She suddenly understood why Meng Xingzhe seemed reluctant to mention this person. Because he was also exceptionally good-looking, comparable to Meng Xingzhe.

Qiu Lishi agreed with Li Wangli’s suggestion, “Then let’s go visit the major client service department together.”

Yao Bingkun nodded in agreement.

It was as if no one had heard the conversation between Lin Qian and Yao Jia just moments ago, so the awkwardness it might have caused simply didn’t exist.

However, Wen Zhihe smiled slightly and said, “No rush. I’d like to have a word with your employee, if that’s alright?”

He gestured toward Lin Qian and asked Yao Bingkun, Qiu Lishi, and Li Wangli.

Li Wangli didn’t dare to answer on her own and looked to Yao Bingkun and Qiu Lishi for their decision.

Yao Bingkun smiled and said, “Of course.”

With that, the atmosphere suddenly grew a bit tense.

Yao Jia took a deep breath, unsure if Wen Zhihe intended to cause trouble for Lin Qian. She felt like a protective cub ready to bare its teeth at any threat, clenching her fists under the table. If Wen Zhihe embarrassed Lin Qian, she was prepared to reveal everything and shield Lin Qian from any fallout.

Wen Zhihe greeted Lin Qian with a “Hello.” Lin Qian stood up from her chair.

Yao Jia wasn’t sure if she was being overly sensitive, but she sensed something different about Lin Qian’s usual demeanor. She seemed a bit tense.

Wen Zhihe looked at Lin Qian, his smile refined and elegant, his voice steady and inscrutable. “Your colleague just said that Wen Zhihe is a good person, and you replied, ‘Not necessarily.’ I’d like to hear how you interpret ‘not necessarily.'”

Yao Jia found it fascinating. If anyone else had asked this question, it would have been incredibly awkward, almost as if Wen Zhihe’s faction was on the brink of a confrontation with Kunyu. Yet, coming from Wen Zhihe himself, it felt as casual as discussing differing opinions on the weather, rather than questioning his character.

Yao Jia thought Lin Qian’s response needed to be exceptionally tactful; otherwise, the blame for any fallout would shift from Wen Zhihe’s question to her inadequate answer. She felt a pang of anxiety for Lin Qian.

Lin Qian raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression unchanged. She immediately displayed a polite smile, showcasing her professional poise, and calmly answered Wen Zhihe’s question. “What I meant was, someone of your stature, Mr. Wen, cannot be simply judged as good or bad. That would be too narrow.”

Wen Zhihe’s smile was enigmatic as he said, “Oh? Then how should one be judged?” His voice carried an indescribable hint of amusement, as if he was curious to see how she would elaborate.

Lin Qian remained composed, her smile still appropriate. She replied, “You should be judged as a successful person. Defining a successful person merely as good or bad is too simplistic and insincere. Only through navigating the dilemmas of good and bad can one truly become a successful person.”

Yao Jia almost wanted to applaud Lin Qian’s words. Though they were somewhat formulaic, Lin Qian delivered them with a depth that made them sound genuinely insightful.

Wen Zhihe laughed and turned to Yao Bingkun, saying, “I heard Kunyu’s After-sales Service is excellent, so I wanted to visit today.” He then turned to Li Wangli, “Manager Li, your team is quite clever. No wonder your customer service is so good.”

His laughter prompted everyone else to join in, and the previously tense atmosphere, which could have easily led to conflict, dissipated in the shared laughter.

The group moved on, heading toward the major client service department.

Yao Jia watched the suited figures gradually fade into the distance, letting out a sigh of relief.

Watching Lin Qian handle Wen Zhihe’s question felt like witnessing a masterful exchange.

She suddenly realized that throughout the entire encounter, Meng Xingzhe had been bent over, seemingly busy. Now, he straightened up.

Unexpectedly, Wen Zhihe, who had already walked some distance away, turned back to glance at them, his mouth curling into that same enigmatic smile.

Yao Jia was startled, but instinctively felt he wasn’t looking at her.

She saw Meng Xingzhe bow his head again, busying himself.

She also noticed Lin Qian seemed to shudder slightly.

Yao Jia felt that Wen Zhihe’s glance had been directed at Lin Qian.

******

That evening, back in the dormitory during dinner, Yao Jia chatted with Meng Xingzhe and Tian Huasheng about the day’s events.

As they talked, Yao Jia brought up why Meng Xingzhe had kept his head down when Wen Zhihe approached.

Holding his bowl, with a comically shaped leaf on his rice, Meng Xingzhe boasted like a Domineering CEO, “I was afraid that if I looked up and he saw my face, he’d immediately feel inferior about his own looks. After all, the guest is a guest, and I have to give him some face.”

Yao Jia nearly spat out her food. She’d never seen someone so shameless.

Tian Huasheng chimed in with a playful grin, “Even though Wen Zhihe is quite handsome, he’s not my brother. In my heart, Brother Meng is definitely more handsome!”

“Keep it low-key,” Meng Xingzhe said with exaggerated modesty, waving his hand at Tian Huasheng while holding chopsticks between his fingers.

Yao Jia was resigned. When a man becomes subjective, it’s as if women have no place at all.

She pondered for a moment and then asked, “Did Wen Zhihe come to Kunyu to discuss a collaboration with Yao Bingkun?”

Tian Huasheng choked a little and stopped her, “Jia, how can you call the great President Yao by his name? We must respect him. He’s a conscientious, passionate, and responsible entrepreneur! Not to mention, where else besides Kunyu do employees get better dormitory benefits?”

“???” Yao Jia was genuinely surprised. She had no idea that the irritable Comrade Yao Bingkun had such devoted fans.

To appease Tian Huasheng, Yao Jia rephrased, “Alright, alright, so did Wen Zhihe come to discuss a collaboration with the great President Yao?”

Tian Huasheng offered his opinion first, “It’s possible!”

Meng Xingzhe disagreed, “Not necessarily.” After a pause, he added, “Wen Zhihe just visited Jiangfeng Electric a few days ago.”

Yao Jia tilted her head, holding her bowl, and asked, “Huh? What’s his game?” Visiting Kunyu’s competitor so openly, then coming to Kunyu just as boldly.

Meng Xingzhe chuckled, “The strategy of a big-hearted ambitious person. He might be looking for a strategic partner to squeeze out another competitor.”

After hearing this, Yao Jia put down her bowl, too concerned to eat. She furrowed her brows in worry.

Meng Xingzhe turned to look at her worried face, finding it somewhat unbelievable. He didn’t expect that working in customer service at Kunyu Electric, she would develop such genuine feelings for the company.

In fact, there was something he hadn’t told his dining companions. Before Wen Zhihe’s friendly visit to Jiangfeng Electric, he had specifically gone to Xingbei Technology, a rapidly growing startup in functional small appliances.

Xingbei Technology’s office meeting room had many photos, including ones of him and Bei Luonan leading employees on team-building activities in the suburbs. He worried that Wen Zhihe, with his sharp eye, might remember these photos, so when Wen Zhihe visited the customer service center today, he kept his head down the entire time to avoid direct contact.

According to Bei Luonan, Wen Zhihe showed a keen interest in Xingbei Technology and expressed a desire to invest and become a shareholder on the spot. However, he wanted to be a controlling shareholder. Meng Xingzhe immediately dismissed this possibility. This wasn’t investment; it was a blatant acquisition, just dressed up in nicer terms.

There was no way he would let the company he founded be swallowed by a financial giant.

As for Kunyu Electric or Jiangfeng Electric, these companies were too large for Wen Zhihe to easily swallow. But if he could ally with one to target the other, the industry landscape could change unpredictably.

However, Meng Xingzhe thought that since neither company was related to him, as he was just a three-month visitor to Kunyu to learn, he wouldn’t mind if the three companies stirred up a mess. That way, his Xingbei Technology might benefit from the chaos.

What puzzled him was why this little customer service representative seemed so worried about it. She was just a low-level worker at Kunyu Electric, like an ant. If she left Kunyu, she could be a customer service rep elsewhere. How did Kunyu give her such a strong sense of belonging, making her feel so intertwined with the company’s fate?

“So, in this battle for strategic partners, can our Kunyu Electric win?” Yao Jia turned and asked Meng Xingzhe, her gaze focused.

Hearing her say “our Kunyu” with such genuine emotion, Meng Xingzhe realized she truly saw herself as part of Kunyu.

“Who can say for sure? Everyone in the industry knows that Wen Zhihe’s intentions are always hard to predict,” Meng Xingzhe replied to Yao Jia.

“How do you know?” Yao Jia asked.

“?” Meng Xingzhe raised an eyebrow, “Know what? Be more specific with your questions.”

“Know that Wen Zhihe visited Jiangfeng Electric, know what he’s up to, know that his intentions are hard to predict, and so on.”

Meng Xingzhe put down his bowl and raised an eyebrow, “By reading the news, kid.”

Yao Jia retorted, “Does the news say that Wen Zhihe’s intentions are hard to predict? Only novels would have such melodramatic descriptions.”

Meng Xingzhe replied, “The comments below the news articles might say that, alright!”

Yao Jia accepted this answer. She had heard that the comments below news articles were often more interesting than the news itself.

After finishing her meal and returning to her room, Yao Jia started downloading various news apps on her phone. From now on, she decided to read the news every day, especially financial and industry-related news. She didn’t want to be in the dark like today, when even someone like Meng Xingzhe, who seemed unreliable, knew things she didn’t.

As she downloaded the apps, Yao Jia couldn’t help but think that although Meng Xingzhe wasn’t very dependable, he had inspired her, a usually laid-back person, to pursue two positive directions: learning about the home appliance industry and company operations, and developing the habit of reading the news.

Thinking about it this way, Yao Jia realized that Meng Xingzhe wasn’t entirely useless. Although he lived as a young man with no ambitions, he had managed to bring some vitality to her otherwise stagnant life.

******

After fiddling with various news apps for a while, Yao Jia checked the time and decided it was about time to take a shower, put on a face mask, and think about going to bed.

Just as she was caught between the laziness of staying put and the urge to get moving, a loud knocking echoed from the entrance.

When Yao Jia stepped out of her room, she saw the doors of the other three rooms also open. Meng Xingzhe, Tian Huasheng, and Tong Yumo stood at their respective doorways, mentally communicating, “What the hell is happening at this hour?”

Yao Jia rushed to open the door.

To her surprise, it was Chen Luoxi from the finance department, who lived in the dorm across from them. They had seen each other earlier that day. Behind her stood Lu Fangfei, a representative from the Human Resources Department.

Chen Luoxi’s face was full of panic and urgency. Her eyes were red, her body trembled, and cold sweat streamed down her forehead, washing over her anxious and restless expression. Lu Fangfei supported her from behind.

Yao Jia called out in surprise, “Sister Chen, what’s happened? Take your time, don’t rush!”

Chen Luoxi tried to calm herself, but her voice still trembled uncontrollably as she asked Yao Jia, “Is Shanshan here with you?”

“Who?” Yao Jia didn’t immediately understand.

Lu Fangfei quickly explained, “Shanshan is Sister Chen’s son, not yet three years old. Sister Chen fell asleep for a bit, and when she woke up, the child was gone. We’ve been searching for a while but couldn’t find him. Suddenly, we thought maybe he wandered over here, so we came to ask!”

The more Yao Jia listened, the more serious her expression became. Though she didn’t want to upset Chen Luoxi further, she had to say, “Shanshan isn’t here. He hasn’t come over.”

Chen Luoxi’s legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed. Yao Jia quickly stepped forward to help her along with Lu Fangfei.

“Sister Chen, don’t worry! How about this: send me a photo of Shanshan, and I’ll share it with everyone in our dorm so we can all help you look!”

Chen Luoxi, full of gratitude, shakily added Yao Jia on WeChat and sent over the child’s photo.

Looking at the picture, Yao Jia felt a pang in her heart. The little boy was adorable, with a hint of melancholy in his expression.

He’s so young, how could he already know how to be unhappy?

She distributed the photo to the other three in the dorm and quickly explained the situation to them.

Then she said, “Let’s all help look for the child!”

Tian Huasheng immediately went back to his room to change without a word.

Tong Yumo stood at her door, hesitating, “I got my period today, and my stomach really hurts. Maybe… I’ll stay here instead of going out to search. If the child comes back, I’ll notify everyone right away!”

“…” Yao Jia thought to herself that Tong Yumo’s period seemed unusually frequent; if she remembered correctly, this was the third time this month. But she didn’t bother arguing with Tong Yumo, knowing she was never one to think logically.

She let Tong Yumo return to her room but grabbed Meng Xingzhe’s arm as he was about to go back to his own room. “Wait, where are you going? Are you on your period too?”

Meng Xingzhe raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t the first thought be to call the police? Aren’t they more reliable than us for finding a child?”

Yao Jia slapped her forehead. At this moment, she had to admit that the cold-hearted Meng Xingzhe was more rational.

She hurried to ask Chen Luoxi if she had called the police. Chen Luoxi, realizing her oversight, quickly did so. She had indeed been so panicked that she forgot.

While Chen Luoxi called the police, Yao Jia rushed back to catch Meng Xingzhe.

He had already returned to his room, and the door was only partially closed. It seemed like he was in a video call with someone.

“Are you busy?” Yao Jia asked.

Meng Xingzhe, as if worried she’d see something, snapped his laptop shut and said, “No, just chatting with a friend.”

Yao Jia stood at his door and called out loudly, “Come on, big guy, at a time like this, stop fooling around online. Let’s go find the child together!” She had originally wanted to say “flirting.”

Meng Xingzhe sat there, torn between finding the child and continuing his meeting.

Tonight’s meeting was crucial, involving whether they could break through a technical bottleneck. If successful, the future of their tech subsidiary would be bright. If not, it could mean several tech personnel might decide to leave, tired of stagnant projects.

The meeting couldn’t do without him. But as for finding the child, it seemed there were already many people involved.

Meng Xingzhe stood there, uncertain of what to do.

“My God,” Yao Jia, unaware of Meng Xingzhe’s internal struggle, asked incredulously, “Big guy, between chatting and finding a child, what is there to hesitate about? Think about it, if such a young child is kidnapped, their life could be ruined forever! Sure, the police are more professional, but if we have one more person helping, doesn’t that increase the chance of the child being safe, of having a chance? Imagine if the child is in the hands of a stranger, how scared and desperate for rescue they must be. If no one comes to save them, how hopeless would they feel?”

Fear, the desire to be saved, hopelessness. These words struck Meng Xingzhe’s heart heavily.

Yao Jia sighed when he didn’t respond. “Meng Xingzhe, how long has it been since you changed? And now you’re back to your old self, cold and unwilling to help?” She waved her hand dismissively. “Go on, continue your chat. I’ll just assume you’re having a bad day. Xiao Tiantian and I will go look.”

She motioned for Tian Huasheng to join her as they headed out.

As she reached the door and closed it behind her, she noticed it didn’t shut with a bang.

Turning back, she saw Meng Xingzhe following. He had his hand on the door, slipping his foot into his shoe as he prepared to step outside.

“At least you have a bit of conscience left,” Yao Jia remarked, feeling an unexpected sense of relief.

Everyone left the building, dividing the area to begin searching for the child. Chen Luoxi stayed put, waiting for the police to arrive.

Yao Jia initially thought of pairing Meng Xingzhe with Lu Fangfei to search together. But she reconsidered, knowing that if Meng Xingzhe decided to slack off, Lu Fangfei might not be able to handle him. So, she paired Tian Huasheng with Lu Fangfei, while she teamed up with Meng Xingzhe.

With her phone in hand, Yao Jia jogged along the street, asking people in small shops and passersby if they had seen the child in the photo. Yet, all she received were negative answers and shaking heads.

Yao Jia couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Looking back, she saw Meng Xingzhe still standing there, seemingly unable to bring himself to speak to strangers.

Frustrated, she approached him, raising her head under the streetlight to glare into his eyes. “Be honest, do you really not want to be out here looking for the child?”

Meng Xingzhe thought about the tech team in the video call, the unresolved issues in the program, the stalled progress of the Smart Communication Chip, and the uncertain future of the subsidiary company. He nodded.

He didn’t realize that his nod conveyed the wrong message to Yao Jia. In her eyes, he wasn’t someone with important meetings; he was just a guy who preferred staying in his room for video chats.

Yao Jia felt a wave of frustration and asked, “Who was it that said they were afraid of becoming the kind of person they despise? I thought you were starting to change, that you were willing to help me and Xiao Tiantian solve problems. But now you’re reverting back!”

Meng Xingzhe looked down at her upturned face, seeing her annoyance. The streetlight cast a grayish-yellow glow on her face, making her appear even more vivid and lively. Her every bit of irritation seemed to strike directly at his soul.

Meng Xingzhe realized Yao Jia was right. He was changing, but only to the point of helping those around him. Reaching out to strangers was still beyond him.

Before helping strangers, he still weighed the pros and cons, considering the gains and losses.

As he gazed at Yao Jia’s animated face under the streetlight, he inexplicably thought of Yue Xuran, realizing they were a couple.

Irritated, he said, “Change takes time, doesn’t it? If I could instantly become someone who helps whenever needed, I might as well become a philanthropist instead of a customer service rep.”

He pulled away from their eye contact and began trying to show the photo to strangers, asking if they had seen the child.

Watching him, Yao Jia saw his shadow stretch nearly two meters long under the streetlight.

She sighed.

Alright, change indeed takes time, and it needs guidance.

She decided she would be the one to guide him.