OBS Chapter 1524 These two people definitely have a problem.
Chapter 1524 These two people definitely have a problem.
Chapter 1524 These two people definitely have a problem.
The next morning, sunlight streamed lazily through the small, dusty window of the rented room in the urban village, falling on the headboard. Liang Danning's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she slowly awoke from her hangover.
It felt like countless steel needles were stuck in her head, causing waves of throbbing pain and dizziness, and her throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire. She squinted, and it took her a while to adjust to the light before she could make out the familiar surroundings—the mottled walls, the simple wardrobe, and the pile of clothes on the bedside table. It was the rented room she and Zhao Mei had shared for more than half a year.
Realizing it was her own home, Liang Danning, who had been on edge all night, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Last night's drinking at the bar flashed through her mind in fragments: ten glasses of strong liquor, loud music, dazzling lights, and that man named Qin Hao... After that, her memory completely disappeared. She couldn't remember how she got back or who brought her home.
She struggled to sit up, her body aching and weak. She threw back the thin blanket, only wanting to get up and go to the living room to get a glass of water. Just as she slipped into her slippers, she groggily pushed open the door, her steps still unsteady.
But as soon as the door opened, a tall, imposing figure walked out of the bathroom.
Their eyes met, and the moment froze.
"what--!"
Liang Danning was terrified; her piercing scream instantly shattered the silence of the rented room. She took a step back, clutching her arms tightly to her chest, her eyes wide with anger as she stared at the man before her, both shocked and furious: "What are you doing in my house?!"
Qin Hao had just finished washing up, his face still slightly damp. Dressed in clean and neat casual clothes, he appeared as calm as if he were at home. Seeing Liang Danning's flustered expression, he decided to tease her, asking in a playful tone, "What do you think?"
Liang Danning's mind went blank, as if she had been hit by a heavy hammer.
She subconsciously looked down at herself—and that one glance made her cheeks flush bright red, spreading from her cheeks to her ears and then to her neck.
She was wearing only a thin, revealing camisole nightgown. The fabric was so minimal, the neckline loose, and her curves were on full display, her alluring figure almost completely exposed to Qin Hao.
Shame, panic, and anger surged into my heart in an instant.
Liang Danning was trembling all over, her voice trembling, and she pointed at Qin Hao, furious: "You—my pajamas! Who changed me?!"
Seeing her embarrassed and angry expression, Qin Hao's lips curled up slightly, revealing a playful and mischievous smile. He deliberately dragged out his words, "I say, Miss Liang, what you're worried about right now isn't just who helped you change your pajamas, is it? Shouldn't you be more worried about whether you've been... uh..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his eyes and tone made the meaning crystal clear.
"you!!!"
Liang Danning completely broke down, her rationality instantly overwhelmed by rage. Her eyes reddened, and she clenched her small fists recklessly, screaming as she charged towards Qin Hao, ready to fight to the death: "I'll kill you! You bastard!"
Unfortunately, she was still hungover, her steps were unsteady, and she had very little strength.
Her little fist had barely reached mid-air when Qin Hao easily grabbed her wrist. She had charged too fast and couldn't stop in time, losing her balance and plunging headfirst into Qin Hao's arms.
The soft touch, the clear body temperature, and the faint fragrance of the bath all intertwine in an instant.
Liang Danning was wearing revealing pajamas, making the feeling of skin against skin exceptionally clear. Qin Hao's body stiffened slightly, and he subconsciously held his breath, almost losing control. He quickly steadied himself and warned in a deep voice, "Hey, if you keep bumping into me like this, I can't guarantee I won't do something beastly."
Held in Liang Danning's arms, she felt both ashamed and angry, tears welling in her eyes. She struggled desperately, but couldn't break free. She glared at Qin Hao, gritting her teeth, and cursed him repeatedly, "You're a beast! A scoundrel! A bastard!"
Qin Hao raised an eyebrow, his gaze darkening slightly.
He suddenly released his grip on her wrist, reached out and pulled her against the wall beside him. He leaned forward slightly, his upper body almost touching hers, the two so close they could feel each other's breath.
An ambiguous and dangerous atmosphere instantly enveloped the area.
"If that's how you put it," Qin Hao lowered his head, his gaze falling on her flushed cheeks, his voice low and teasing, "then wouldn't I be at a huge loss if I didn't do what beasts, hooligans, and bastards do?"
Liang Danning's heart skipped a beat, and she froze in fright.
She was terrified, but her stubbornness wouldn't allow her to admit defeat. She stubbornly insisted on talking back, her voice trembling slightly: "You dare! I'll call the police and have you arrested right now! One time will get you three years in jail, and your life will be ruined!"
Qin Hao found it amusing to watch her struggle to stay calm despite her obvious panic, but he deliberately put on a cold expression and continued to tease her: "Hmm, you make a lot of sense. But haven't you ever watched a crime documentary? Usually, after committing a crime, in order to prevent the victim from reporting it to the police, the perpetrators will... silence them."
"Silence... silence them?"
Liang Danning's pupils contracted sharply, and her mind went completely blank for a moment.
She was already flustered by Qin Hao's actions, and when she heard the words "silence," all the random guesses she had last night came flooding back—could this guy really be a seemingly respectable but actually psychologically disturbed murderer?
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Her lips turned white, her whole body trembled slightly, and she was at a loss for what to do, even forgetting to cry.
Just as Liang Danning was on the verge of a breakdown, Qin Hao suddenly stepped back and released his hand from her shoulder.
The oppressive feeling from before vanished instantly.
Liang Danning leaned against the wall, still in a daze, not yet able to react.
Qin Hao straightened his clothes, his expression returning to normal. He took a key out of his pocket and handed it to her: "I'm going to work now. This is Zhao Mei's key. Remember to return it to her."
After saying that, he stopped looking at Liang Danning's stunned expression, turned around and walked straight to the door, opened it, and then gently closed it.
"Click".
With a soft click, the door lock returned to its original position.
It wasn't until the door slammed shut that Liang Danning stiffly came to her senses—she had been tricked!
From beginning to end, this guy was deliberately scaring her!
"Qin Hao! You bastard—!"
She stomped her feet in anger, her cheeks turning red and white in turns. She was both ashamed and furious, wishing she could rush out, drag Qin Hao back, and give him a good beating.
After venting for a while, she calmed down a bit, then turned around and pushed open Zhao Mei's door.
The curtains in the room were drawn tightly, the light was dim, and a pungent, unpleasant smell of alcohol filled the air. Zhao Mei was curled up on the bed, fast asleep, and looked exhausted.
Hearing the door open, Zhao Mei opened her eyes alertly and looked over groggily. Seeing it was Liang Danning, she breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing her throbbing temples, her voice hoarse: "Danning, you're awake."
Liang Danning, seething with anger, strode to the bedside, plopped down, and asked urgently and furiously, "Zhao Mei! What's that guy doing in our house?!"
"That guy?" Zhao Mei was stunned for a while before her hangover brain slowly came to its senses: "You mean Qin Hao?"
"Who else could it be!" Liang Danning exclaimed angrily, "How could he have our house key?"
Zhao Mei rolled her eyes and complained weakly, "Big sister, how dare you say that? You have such a low alcohol tolerance, yet you still insisted on showing off. You got completely drunk and passed out on the spot, throwing up everywhere. I still have to go back to work at the bar, and I can't just leave you, a girl, in a place like that, can I? What if something happens? I can only entrust you to Qin Hao and have him bring you back."
"You've only met him a few times, and you're already entrusting me to him?" Liang Danning looked incredulous. "You're so careless! What if he's a psychopathic killer?!"
Zhao Mei burst out laughing at her antics, and tapped her forehead: "What perverted killer, Liang Danning? You've been watching too many horror movies. Qin Hao graduated from a top-tier university, is an analyst at Xingchen Consulting, and was just promoted to department head yesterday. He's good-looking, has a great figure, and has a bright future. What kind of beautiful woman can't he find?"
Liang Danning was speechless for a moment, unable to utter a word after being rebuked, but she was still unwilling to give up: "That's not necessarily true! Those men in bars, don't they all dress up properly during the day, but at night they still show their true colors?"
Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly remembered the most crucial question, and her expression instantly tensed up. She lowered her voice and said, "That's right! My clothes! Who changed me into this nightgown?"
Zhao Mei looked at her like she was an idiot and said irritably, "Of course I changed it for you! Sister, I didn't get off work until after 3 a.m., and when I walked in I saw you vomiting all over yourself, and the bed and floor were a mess. I cleaned up, wiped you down, and changed your clothes. It took me almost an hour. I had just lain down for a short while when you woke me up."
Liang Danning was stunned. The anger on her face froze instantly, replaced by a sense of shame.
It turns out Zhao Mei changed out of the pajamas. Then why did she throw such a tantrum at Qin Hao and get scared by him for so long? She was incredibly stupid!
Her cheeks flushed, and she scratched her head sheepishly, her voice weakening: "I'm so sorry, Meimei, thank you for your hard work. You should go to sleep now, I won't bother you anymore."
"Close the door," Zhao Mei mumbled, her eyes barely open from sleep. "Don't wake me before five o'clock this afternoon."
"Oh."
Liang Danning tiptoed out of the room, gently closed the door, and returned to her own small room alone.
She lay down on the bed, covering her burning face with her hands. Scenes from that morning replayed uncontrollably in her mind—bumping into Qin Hao's arms, being pressed against the wall by him, his deep voice, his teasing eyes…
There are also some fragmented memories, fragments from before the break.
It seems that... last night in the taxi, she took Qin Hao's arm and flirted with him?
"Ugh—! I'm so embarrassed!!!"
Liang Danning buried her head in the pillow and let out a muffled wail.
On the other side, Qin Hao had already left the urban village, taking the subway and buses along the way, and arrived at Xingchen Consulting Company on time.
As soon as I took office as supervisor, I naturally had a lot to do.
Qin Hao first summoned the leaders of his three teams to his small supervisor's office for a brief morning meeting. His tone was calm and his explanations clear, assigning tasks such as the follow-up execution of the Junxin project, client liaison, and data processing. There were no unnecessary words, yet his presence exuded an undeniable authority.
The three team leaders appeared respectful on the surface, but each had their own thoughts.
Just a few days ago, Qin Hao was on equal footing with them, all ordinary analysts. Overnight, he transformed into their boss, issuing orders to them. Everyone would feel a little resentful, but they just didn't want to show it.
Qin Hao noticed these subtle expressions but didn't point them out.
That's how the workplace works; if you're not convinced, let your abilities speak for themselves.
After the morning meeting ended, he picked up his briefcase and said to Yao Xiaohui, who was standing guard at the door, "Come on, come with me to Junxin."
"Oh!" Yao Xiaohui's expression was somewhat unnatural.
The two drove to the headquarters of Junxin Wedding Dress.
Upon entering the Junxin Building, one is immediately struck by the high-end, refined, and romantic brand atmosphere, with wedding dress samples and brand promotional posters visible everywhere.
At this moment, Mr. Liang, dressed in a sharp suit, appeared calm and capable, completely reverting to the elite demeanor of a senior executive of a listed company. He was a completely different person from the Mr. Liang who had been embracing women and behaving recklessly in the bar last night.
Upon seeing Qin Hao, General Manager Liang took the initiative to stand up and shake hands, smiling politely: "Manager Qin, thank you for your hard work, you've come so early."
"Of course, Mr. Liang." Qin Hao replied calmly, "For the plan to be implemented, we must keep a close eye on the details."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the group entered the conference room to formally begin a comprehensive and detailed discussion on the implementation of Junxin's latest brand marketing plan – "Love only one person in a lifetime, and dedicate your life to only one person".
This meeting lasted all day.
It's open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
At Junxin, heads of various departments, including operations, marketing, stores, design, and finance, took turns raising numerous detailed questions regarding practical implementation:
How to set up a real-name registration system?
Will permanently storing data pose privacy risks?
How can store employees use standardized sales scripts?
How to appease long-term customers?
When will the new promotional materials arrive?
How to choose advertising channels?
One question after another, both tricky and realistic.
Yao Xiaohui sat beside him, sweating profusely. There were many questions he hadn't even considered, and if asked them, he would definitely be speechless on the spot.
But Qin Hao remained calm and composed throughout.
No matter what questions the other party raises, he hardly needs to think; he can effortlessly provide clear, practical, and executable solutions. From overall strategy to a single promotional phrase or poster layout, everything is meticulously planned.
This move immediately impressed all the senior executives of Junxin present.
The look in President Liang's eyes when he looked at Qin Hao was full of admiration and recognition.
The business world is never short of imaginative ideas; what it lacks are people who can smoothly bring those ideas to fruition. Too many so-called consultants are all talk and no action, and when it comes to execution, they're a complete mess. Qin Hao, on the other hand, possesses both stunning solutions and formidable execution capabilities—that's true talent.
By the time the meeting ended, it was already dark.
The group saw them off to the elevator.
Junxin's marketing director took the initiative to shake Qin Hao's hand and said half-jokingly, "Manager Qin, if we encounter any problems in the future, we will have to ask you for advice. Don't keep anything to yourself."
Qin Hao smiled and calmly replied, "Look at what you're saying. We signed a two-year contract with Junxin. I will take full responsibility for any problems your company may have."
As we were talking, the elevator arrived with a "ding".
General Manager Liang smiled and patted Qin Hao's arm: "Manager Qin, let's keep in touch from now on."
"Okay, let's keep in touch. Please wait a moment, we'll be leaving now."
Qin Hao nodded slightly and led Yao Xiaohui into the elevator.
The elevator doors slowly closed, and the elevator descended.
In the cramped space, Yao Xiaohui kept secretly observing Qin Hao, her eyes filled with admiration, shock, and a hint of complexity.
Today's implementation briefing has had an even greater impact on him than when Qin Hao unveiled the new plan to the public that day.
"What's wrong?" Qin Hao noticed his gaze and casually teased, "Is there something on my face?"
Yao Xiaohui shook his head with a wry smile, his tone full of genuine admiration: "No, it's just that... you're completely different from before. Like a different person."
Qin Hao smiled faintly and offered no explanation.
He suddenly changed the subject, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable authority: "Old Yao, if I promote you to the position of team leader, can you shoulder this responsibility?"
These words exploded in Yao Xiaohui's mind as the elevator "dinged" to reach the ground floor.
Yao Xiaohui was shocked, his heart pounding, and he could hardly believe his ears: "Promote me as the team leader? Isn't that... too obvious?"
After all, he and Qin Hao joined the company at the same time and had the best relationship. Qin Hao promoted him as soon as he took office, which inevitably led to accusations of nepotism.
"That's why I asked you if you can take on this responsibility." Qin Hao didn't mince words and said frankly, "You saw it at the morning meeting this morning. None of my three team leaders truly respect me. I need someone on my own, someone who can get things done and is reliable."
Yao Xiaohui took a deep breath, and her eyes instantly became firm.
The opportunity was right in front of him; he couldn't possibly turn it down.
He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying each word clearly, "I can! I definitely can! No matter how hard or tiring it is, I can handle it! I will never let you down!"
Seeing his resolute expression, Qin Hao nodded calmly: "Alright, then I'll see how you perform."
Those five simple words seemed to reassure Yao Xiaohui.
Yao Xiaohui stared at Qin Hao's calm and composed profile, momentarily lost in thought.
From this moment on, he and Qin Hao are no longer on the same level. Qin Hao is the leader, the decision-maker, while he is merely a follower.
"See you tomorrow." Qin Hao patted him on the shoulder.
"Oh... okay." Yao Xiaohui quickly snapped out of her daze.
The two parted ways downstairs at Junxin Building. Qin Hao first took the subway, then transferred to a bus, and after a long and winding journey, he returned to the urban village at 7 p.m.
After a whole day of running around, his stomach was growling with hunger, and he just wanted to find a food stall at the village entrance to fill his stomach.
As Qin Hao approached the bustling night market stall at the village entrance, his gaze paused as he spotted two familiar figures.
Zhao Mei and Liang Danning.
The two were sitting at a small table with several plates of stir-fry and a bottle of soda in front of them, looking like they were just about to eat.
Zhao Mei, with her sharp eyes, spotted Qin Hao immediately and waved enthusiastically, calling out loudly, "Qin Hao! What a coincidence! Just got off work?"
Upon hearing the name "Qin Hao," Liang Danning froze, instinctively covering her face with her hands, wishing she could bury her head under the table, and muttered in complaint, "Are you that close to him? Why did you call him over..."
Zhao Mei gave her a strange look: "He did bring you back safely last night, you should at least say thank you, right? Why are you acting so strangely, like you're afraid of him."
Liang Danning was speechless for a moment, unable to find a reason to refute. She could only bite the bullet, slowly lower her hand, and force a polite smile that looked worse than a grimace at Qin Hao.
Qin Hao strolled over slowly, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
The moment he sat down, one sentence from him almost broke Liang Danning's composure.
"Miss Liang looks so pale, are you still drunk?"
Liang Danning's lips twitched, her fiery temper flared up instantly, and she almost couldn't help but flip the table on the spot.
But when she thought of what Zhao Mei had said—that the other person had helped her after all—she could only grit her teeth and try to maintain her composure, squeezing out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Thank you for bringing me back last night."
"You're welcome." Qin Hao said frankly, then added, "But if I may be so bold, Miss Liang, with your alcohol tolerance, you'd better not try to be a hero in the future. Otherwise, it might not be good if you really run into a psychopathic killer one day."
Liang Danning: "..."
She mentally ranted: What a stingy man! What a vengeful guy! He's holding a grudge over such a small thing!
Zhao Mei was incredibly astute; she could tell at a glance that there was definitely something wrong between the two of them, and the atmosphere was strange. However, she didn't expose them on the spot. Instead, she smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Qin Hao, thank you so much for last night. You not only helped Danning but also indirectly helped me with my sales. Let me treat you to dinner, boss, and please add another set of chopsticks and a bowl!"
Qin Hao shook his head seriously: "You achieved your results through your own hard work; I didn't help much. If anyone should be paying for this meal, it should be Miss Liang."
Liang Danning: "???"
I almost blurted out "Why should I?"
She glared at Qin Hao, cursing him a thousand times in her heart, but under Zhao Mei's gaze, she forced herself to hold back and silently thought: Forget it, it's better to lose money than to suffer a disaster. I won't stoop to his level.
She took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Okay, Mr. Qin, what would you like to eat? I'll pay the bill."
Qin Hao didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the menu, glanced at it, and immediately ordered, "First, a stir-fried beef noodles, a three-cup chicken, and a sweet and sour pork with pineapple..."
As Liang Danning listened to him order one dish after another, her fists clenched tighter and tighter, her lips twitching uncontrollably. She couldn't help but whisper, "You've ordered so much... can we finish it all?"
Qin Hao pretended not to hear, didn't even lift his eyelids, and calmly added two more dishes.
Zhao Mei saw everything clearly from the side and was certain in her heart that something had definitely happened between these two people that she didn't know about!
Just then, Liang Danning's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had grasped a lifeline. She slapped her forehead and exclaimed, "Oh no! Zhao Mei, we have to go! We'll be late for work if we don't leave now!"
"Okay!" Zhao Mei immediately understood, but didn't expose her. She stood up and said to Qin Hao, "Qin Hao, we'll be going now. Boss, the bill!"
Liang Danning reluctantly paid the money, grabbed Zhao Mei, and quickly left the food stall without looking back.
After walking quite a distance, out of Qin Hao's sight, Zhao Mei finally couldn't resist stopping and leaning closer with a gossipy look on her face: "Tell me honestly, is there something between you and Qin Hao that I don't know about?"
"No!" Liang Danning was startled, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She immediately denied it, but her face turned bright red in an instant.
"Really not?" Zhao Mei asked doubtfully.
"Really not!" Liang Danning said firmly.
Zhao Mei looked her up and down, her eyes playful: "But why do I feel like you're particularly hostile towards him? And both of you have been talking about a psychopathic killer all day..."
Liang Danning felt flustered under Zhao Mei's gaze. Seeing Zhao Mei's determined questioning attitude, she knew that continuing the conversation would surely expose her lie. She quickly grabbed Zhao Mei and hurried forward, saying, "No, it was just a casual remark. It might just be a coincidence..."
Watching Liang Danning's flustered and fleeing figure, Zhao Mei's lips curled into a knowing smile.
Meanwhile, at the food stalls...
Qin Hao watched Liang Danning's almost fleeing figure, picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and a playful smile slowly appeared on his lips.