Jingbei International Airport.
Song Xinya stood at the security checkpoint, gazing at Qin Yuhe on the other side, her eyes filled with reluctance to part.
At twenty-five, she was no longer a girl of seventeen or eighteen who would burst into tears at parting from someone she loved. Even so, she still felt miserable inside.
Partings were always melancholy.
She straightened his tie and smoothed the wrinkles in his white shirt at the shoulders.
“You might be in the States for several months. Autumn will be here soon. Did you pack enough warm clothes?”
Qin Yuhe said, “I did. I even packed thermal underwear.”
“Do CEOs like you wear thermal underwear?”
“No. I was just joking to cheer you up.”
The gloom in Song Xinya’s eyes gave way to delight, and the heaviness in her heart eased. The corners of her lips curved into a smile.
Qin Yuhe looked at her, his gaze deep and distant.
At that moment, he was just as reluctant to leave.
Before marrying her, business trips had been an ordinary part of life for him.
After marrying her, the reluctance he felt every time he went away grew stronger and stronger.
Qin Yuhe thought this must be what people meant by falling in love over time.
An announcement echoed through the terminal, alternating between Chinese and English, reminding passengers to pass through security and board their flights as soon as possible.
Song Xinya gave Qin Yuhe a gentle push. “Go through security. What if your flight gets delayed and you miss boarding?”
Qin Yuhe took her hand and pulled her into his arms.
He gazed at her face, his deep, gentle voice brushing past her ear like a spring breeze.
“The slogan at German airports says, ‘Kiss & Fly.’ It means kiss first, then say goodbye.”
“Terminals have witnessed far too many partings—between friends, family, and lovers. An airport is the farthest place people can escort one another. People say goodbye here because they love each other.”
“The terminal blesses everyone who leaves with love in their hearts.”
“So, Yaya, my wife, let’s kiss first, then say goodbye, and look forward to seeing each other again.”
His low, magnetic voice and warm, tender words melted Song Xinya’s heart into spring mud too soft to hold its shape.
Just as she was about to rise on tiptoe to kiss him, he lowered his head first. His palm cradled the back of her neck as he kissed her soft lips.
Their lips met, warm and yielding as jade.
People carrying luggage passed through the airport terminal in an endless stream.
Qin Yuhe lingered against Song Xinya’s lips for two seconds before releasing the back of her neck and straightening up.
He looked into her eyes and said solemnly, “When we see each other again, I’ll play the piano for you. Be a good girl. Stay safe and healthy, and wait for me to come back.”
Looking into his serious, almost reverent eyes, Song Xinya suddenly felt like crying. With a nasal whine, she murmured, “Okay.”
Qin Yuhe tousled her hair. “I’m going.”
He turned and strode toward the security checkpoint.
He was addicted to her.
The simplest touch, a meeting of their eyes, and the desire in his heart would be tugged awake by a tiny hook.
It was not merely physical desire. It was psychological, too.
He was afraid that if he lingered against her lips for even one more second, or looked into her moist eyes for even one second longer, he would no longer be able to leave.
After passing through security, Qin Yuhe continued forward, his steps steady and commanding. With his tall, imposing back and refusal to look over his shoulder, he seemed the very picture of cool composure.
Watching him walk away without turning back, Song Xinya felt the sadness of parting wash away.
What a heartless man. He leaves so coolly.
Hmph.
She was leaving too.
Imitating him, Song Xinya turned around and strode away, without looking back.
What she did not know was that, the moment she walked out of the airport entrance, Qin Yuhe turned around and watched her.
He was the one leaving. He was the one who saw her off.
………
When Song Xinya arrived at the office, she saw several colleagues carrying boxes out.
The boxes were filled with everyday items they used at work: water bottles, charging cables, electric health pots, coasters, neck pillows for their lunch breaks, and so on.
She vaguely guessed what had happened.
After sitting down at her desk, Chen Siyan—the office’s resident gossipmonger, forever on the front lines of the intelligence bureau—stuck his head over and began sharing the company’s latest news.
“Those people ranked at the bottom for performance. Mr. Yuan fired them.”
It was just as Song Xinya had guessed.
Chen Siyan continued, “Mr. Yuan just announced that the last-place elimination system will continue. Another group of people will be let go in the future.”
Song Xinya glanced at them. Every one of them was a trusted subordinate of Zhao Yinian.
When Zhao Yinian had been general manager, those people had occupied their positions without doing any work, drawing high salaries and enjoying full benefits while leeching off Qin Group.
Zhao Yinian had been arrogant, sharp-tongued, and unreasonable. What kind of people could her relatives and friends possibly be?
Their dismissal was a good thing for Qin Group.
Everyone knew that companies had to compensate employees they fired.
Song Xinya asked, “How much compensation did Mr. Yuan promise them? N? 2N? N+1?”
“Mr. Yuan’s brilliance lies in the fact that he didn’t compensate them a single cent.”
Song Xinya was startled. “How could the people who were fired possibly agree to that? Wouldn’t they make a huge scene?”
“The best part is still to come. Mr. Yuan has dirt on all of them. When they were told they were fired, they didn’t even dare to make a fuss.”
“Career newbies might not see it, but experienced employees like us know exactly what’s going on. The so-called last-place elimination system and creating greater efficiency for the company are just smokescreens. The new leader is simply favoring his own faction and purging anyone who stands against him.”
“Whenever a new emperor takes the throne, he removes the old officials and appoints and trains his own trusted aides.”
“Besides, over the past few days, Mr. Yuan has been carrying out a series of reforms in every area of the company—personnel, finances, daily office administration, market research, product development, quality control, and more.”
“Even an old hand like me, who’s worked here for years, can clearly feel that the company is becoming more standardized and more international. We’re practically moving into step with the rest of the world.”
“As expected of someone President Qin personally recruited. His management skills are truly impressive.”
Working at the company, Song Xinya could also clearly feel that its rules and regulations were becoming more comprehensive.
Chen Siyan said, “But why is our leave policy still so casual?”
“Employee benefits?”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Good thing you have two, so you can believe in them however you like.”
Chen Siyan said with a shameless grin, “How do you know I have two? Maybe I only have one.”
“You could have none. Just cut off the sausage too and become a eunuch.”
Chen Siyan burst out laughing. “Teacher Song, you’re ruthless. I’m not taking your advice. I don’t want to practice the Sunflower Manual and become some neither-man-nor-woman freak just yet.”
After laughing himself out, Chen Siyan asked Song Xinya, “Who takes the most leave in our company?”
Song Xinya fell silent for a moment. “...Me.”
“I’m guessing Mr. Yuan must have mentioned reforming the leave policy to President Qin, but President Qin didn’t agree.”
“Why do you think President Qin refused?”
Chen Siyan hit the nail on the head: “With every other company policy becoming more and more comprehensive, the one policy President Qin refuses to change is this one—just so you can take time off whenever you need to.”
“This isn’t an employee benefit. It’s your boss playing favorites.”
