Chapter 030
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Chapter 030 Winning Over the Entire Finance Department
Alright, this sentence really carries many meanings, especially when a man says it to a woman, filled with strong suggestive undertones.
Of course, if Xue Ruyun were to hear this sentence, she would definitely tease him about it, but Zhou Anke truly wouldn’t think that much into it.
“You’re already very impressive,” Zhou Anke said sincerely. She had practiced calligraphy with her family elders since childhood, but Su Rui’s eye for detail was not inferior to those elders. Being able to change the entire character’s spirit with just a slight modification of a couple of strokes was something even her elders might not accomplish. Su Rui was absolutely a calligraphy genius!
Su Rui looked at the calligraphy piece and slowly shook his head: “Ann, you’re from Xijiang, right?”
Zhou Anke was somewhat surprised: “Yes, I am from Xijiang, but how did you know?”
Su Rui smiled slightly: “Actually, when I first saw you, I knew you were a woman from the water towns of Jiangnan, and now I’m even more certain.”
Zhou Anke didn’t interrupt, waiting with a puzzled expression for Su Rui’s explanation.
“This semi-cursive style, at first glance, doesn’t seem different from ordinary calligraphy, but if you observe carefully, you’ll notice subtle changes in details, exuding a quiet and peaceful aura. The character’s spirit and brush technique tell me this is the Liantang style, so you must be from Liantang Town in Xijiang.”
Bang!
The teacup in Zhou Anke’s hand dropped straight to the floor!
Fortunately, the crystal cup was of good quality, otherwise it would have shattered into pieces!
Who exactly was this Su Rui? How could he determine her hometown just by looking at a piece of calligraphy?
Seeing Zhou Anke’s shocked expression, Su Rui smiled slightly, bent down to pick up the cup, and gently placed it on the desk.
“You shouldn’t be too surprised. The Liantang style isn’t well-known, but I happen to know something about it. Legend has it that this style was created by the first daughter-in-law of a wealthy family in Liantang Town, which is why it has less masculine vigor and more feminine beauty. All descendants were required to practice it, and gradually it spread throughout the town, but its influence didn’t reach far beyond—few people know of this style outside the town.”
Zhou Anke’s shock was immeasurable, stirring up huge waves in her heart. She truly felt like she had encountered a ghost. How could Su Rui be so mysterious? He was even more impressive than a detective solving cases!
“I’ve also vaguely heard that the head of that wealthy family had the surname Zhou, a great family lineage passed down for hundreds of years,” Su Rui continued with his astonishing revelation. “Ann, if I’m not mistaken, you must be from that family, right?”
Never underestimate the number of extraordinary people in this world, and never judge by appearances. Before this, Zhou Anke would never have imagined that a business person from Bikang’s marketing department could not only transform the entire spirit of a calligraphy piece with just one or two stroke modifications but could also deduce her family background just from a piece of writing!
Almost no one outside Liantang Town knew about the “Liantang style,” and even young people in the town who wanted to practice calligraphy were becoming fewer and fewer. They probably didn’t even know what “Liantang style” was, yet Su Rui knew!
“You’re truly amazing!” Zhou Anke was still in shock, as Su Rui’s performance would be a powerful impact on anyone!
Looking at Zhou Anke’s slightly open mouth, Su Rui found her quite adorable. He blinked and smiled: “I’ve long heard that the lotus flowers in your hometown are very beautiful. If you go back next time, could you possibly take me with you?”
In fact, Su Rui was half-joking when he said this, and such a request would indeed be difficult for a woman. Who would bring a man they barely knew when visiting family? Wouldn’t that be like announcing to everyone that he was her boyfriend?
But Zhou Anke didn’t think that way. Instead, she replied with slight excitement: “Sure, it’s rare to meet someone who understands the Liantang style. I’ll definitely take you to see Liantang Town!”
Su Rui smiled and said: “Then it’s settled. Don’t go back on your word.”
Zhou Anke smiled, femininely tucking her hair behind her ear: “I definitely won’t.”
“Great, I’ll treat you to a meal another day,” Su Rui said before leaving, casting a long fishing line.
“Okay.” Due to the Liantang style connection, Zhou Anke now had an extremely good impression of Su Rui, so she agreed to his invitation without a second thought.
After Su Rui left Zhou Anke’s office, the gossipy Hu Qianqian immediately approached him and asked: “Hey, handsome, what exactly were you talking about with our Director Zhou? Do you know that you’re the man I’ve seen stay in her office for the longest time?”
“Really?” Su Rui rubbed his nose and smiled wryly, “That’s truly my honor.”
“You really don’t know, our Director Zhou has many pursuers, but whether male friends or male colleagues, none of them can stay in her office for more than ten minutes. You’re really something, setting a precedent!”
Su Rui hadn’t thought about this aspect. Why wouldn’t she let men stay longer in her office? Could it be that she had a cleanliness obsession? Women truly are creatures that are difficult to understand.
“Hey, handsome, you got such a big bonus, aren’t you going to show some appreciation?” Hu Qianqian followed behind Su Rui, chattering incessantly while carrying a large stack of documents.
Su Rui glanced around and saw all the finance department girls looking at him with hopeful eyes. He took out his wallet, pulled out a stack of red bills—at least a dozen or so—and stuffed them all into Hu Qianqian’s hand.
“Hu Qianqian, I’ve been too busy these days and haven’t had time to treat everyone. Help me get a few dozen cups of coffee from the Starbucks downstairs, as my tribute to the beautiful ladies of the finance department.”
“Yay!”
Before Su Rui had finished speaking, cheers erupted throughout the finance department’s open office area!
“The handsome guy is so generous!”
“Much more generous than that Chen Leigan before. Unlike that guy who wouldn’t even treat us to a milk tea after getting his commission.”
“Handsome and wealthy, why aren’t you girls making a move on this golden bachelor?”
The girls in the finance department discussed enthusiastically, and Su Rui would continue to be their topic of conversation for many days to come.
Surprisingly, Su Rui returned just two minutes after leaving.
Hu Qianqian and several colleagues were about to go downstairs to buy coffee when they saw Su Rui come back. They asked curiously: “Handsome Su, you’re not taking back the coffee money, are you?”
Su Rui smiled: “Of course not. I just feel that I get along so well with the beautiful ladies of the finance department that just treating you to coffee seems too stingy.”
“So what do you plan to do?” Hu Qianqian asked, tilting her head. She really liked Su Rui more and more—this new guy was so accommodating.
“I don’t know exactly how many beautiful ladies are in the finance department, so I’ve reserved a table for fifty people at Baruda Western Restaurant. I’ve already paid by phone.”
It’s worth noting that Baruda Western Restaurant was one of the more upscale restaurants in Ninghai, costing several hundred yuan per person. Reserving for fifty people would cost tens of thousands!
Moreover, restaurants of this caliber weren’t places ordinary white-collar workers could afford. Probably none of the finance department girls had ever been to Baruda Restaurant!
“Long live handsome Su!” Hu Qianqian raised her arm and cheered loudly upon hearing this!
With one person taking the lead, the entire finance department followed suit, with all the girls cheering.
Hu Qianqian shouted again: “Sisters, thanks to handsome Su, we’re having dinner at Baruda tonight!”
“Yay!” Cheers erupted again, and Su Rui had clearly become the star of the finance department!
Su Rui had been gone for quite a while, but Zhou Anke was still staring at the calligraphy piece “Tranquility Leads to Success” in a daze, seemingly not even hearing the cheers outside.
Over these years of studying and working away from home, she had fewer and fewer opportunities to return to her hometown. But the fewer chances she had to go back, the more she missed it—missed the lotus flowers of her hometown, missed the calligraphy style of her hometown, missed the people of her hometown.
The “Liantang style” was once a calligraphy style that every child in Liantang Town had to learn, but it had gradually been forgotten over time. Who could know what joy the finance deputy director of Bikang Group felt when she heard those three words from Su Rui’s mouth?
Zhou Anke looked at the calligraphy piece, suddenly stood up, rose on her tiptoes, and carefully took it down. She rolled it up with great care and placed it in an exquisite box.
No matter how good something is, it should be in the hands of someone who appreciates it. Otherwise, it would be like casting pearls before swine.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door. Zhou Anke looked up and said: “Come in.”
Hu Qianqian walked in with a smile: “Director Zhou, do you have time tonight?”
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s like this: Su Rui said he’s treating everyone in the finance department to dinner. He’s booked a room at Baruda Restaurant. If Director Zhou has time, you could join us.”
“Su Rui is treating you to dinner?”
“Yes and no. He himself isn’t free, but he booked the place, and we finance department colleagues are going by ourselves,” Hu Qianqian explained.
“I see.” Zhou Anke smiled and said: “Qianqian, tell me the truth, did you extort him again?”
Hu Qianqian quickly waved her hands: “Director Zhou, I wouldn’t dare. This was Su Rui’s own initiative.”
“Alright, whatever you say.” Zhou Anke knew what was going on. This Hu Qianqian was quite cunning and had definitely extorted a meal from Su Rui. This kind of thing had happened before, but someone as generous as Su Rui was rare.
Su Rui returned to the marketing department and sat down leisurely, recalling how he had enjoyed the cheers in the finance department. It felt pretty good—men are truly vain creatures.
Chen Leigan sat at his desk, appearing to be gathering client information but actually seething with hatred. Su Rui had only been here for a few days but had completely overshadowed him in terms of popularity.
“Ah, so boring,” Su Rui glanced at his computer and simply continued watching NBA games. He could be considered the happiest employee in all of Bikang.
Just then, the marketing department’s office area suddenly became agitated!
