Gossip prince

Ye Qian looked at Li Xiuqin disdainfully and said, "I've never seen a woman as unreasonable as you. You call that having manners? Screaming and shouting like a shrew." Ye Qian usually treated women with respect and courtesy, but this woman was clearly being too unreasonable, acting all high and mighty as if everyone owed her millions. He didn't want to argue with her, but she wouldn't stop, forcing him to respond sarcastically.

Li Xiuqin, a mid-level manager at Tianya Group and the secretary to the head of the marketing department, was used to people bowing and scraping to her. So, when a mere security guard not only failed to recognize her status but also dared to insult her, it was more than she could take, especially since she was already in a bad mood from her lover's recent neglect. "You dare insult me?" she yelled furiously.

"Why shouldn't I insult you? Who do you think you are? You think wearing a white blouse makes you a white-collar? Bullshit! Look at yourself in the mirror; you look like a menopausal hag," Ye Qian retorted disdainfully. Wan Chunhua, standing nearby, was shocked by Ye Qian's boldness, giving him a thumbs-up secretly, signaling, "Man, you're awesome."

"What's your name?" Li Xiuqin demanded angrily.

"You think you're so capable? Find out my name yourself," Ye Qian replied. With that, he turned and walked away, with Wan Chunhua quickly following him, leaving Li Xiuqin fuming and muttering, "Humph, if I don't deal with you, my name isn't Li."

"Ye Qian, you've really done it now, how could you offend her?" Wan Chunhua said nervously as they walked back to the security room.

"What's the big deal? Is she that powerful?" Ye Qian asked, surprised but clearly unconcerned.

"You might not know this since you're new here, but Li Xiuqin is one of the most troublesome people in Tianya Group. Anyone who offends her gets fired. Plus, our captain has been smitten with her for a long time. If he finds out how you spoke to her today, Zheng Xin will likely keep causing you trouble," Wan Chunhua explained.

"So what? People like her need to be put firmly in their place, or they'll always think they're above everyone else, expecting all men to grovel at their feet. Besides, if it gets too much, I'll just quit. What can she possibly do to me?" Ye Qian replied lightly.

Wan Chunhua sighed resignedly, "You're right, if it gets too much, we can always leave. There are other jobs out there."

"That's the spirit. A man must stand firm and not always bow and scrape. How else can he achieve great things?" Ye Qian said, smiling.

Wan Chunhua didn't say more, though he agreed with Ye Qian. Sometimes reality was harsh, and it didn't allow for much pride.

Soon, it was time to clock out. Aside from the unpleasant encounter with Li Xiuqin, Ye Qian was satisfied with his first day at work. At the end of the day, he invited his colleagues to join him for barbecue. Fu Junsheng initially wanted to decline, but perhaps it was the camaraderie between soldiers that made him feel a kinship with Ye Qian. After a moment's hesitation, he agreed.

The group of four—Ye Qian, Wan Chunhua, Fu Junsheng, and a northerner named Zhao Tiezhu—found a spot at a nearby barbecue stand. The stand's owner, a woman in her thirties with a scar running from her eye to her mouth, looked intimidating at first glance. Without the scar, she might have been considered pretty, which made Ye Qian wonder if she had been beautiful in her youth.

They ordered lamb testicles, lamb balls, oysters, crispy cartilage, chives, and some beer.

"Hey, do you guys want to hear the story about the owner of this stall?" Wan Chunhua asked.

Ye Qian, Fu Junsheng, and Zhao Tiezhu looked at him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and dismay. Ye Qian almost thought Wan Chunhua missed his calling by not becoming a paparazzo.

"Do you know about the 'Heavens on Earth' club in Beijing?" Wan Chunhua began.

Apart from Ye Qian, Fu Junsheng and Zhao Tiezhu nodded. 'Heavens on Earth' was notorious in China before it was shut down, a place many wealthy and corrupt individuals frequented.

"This owner used to be a top hostess there, chased by countless wealthy men and heirs. But then she fell in love with a mob boss and decided to turn over a new leaf. However, her lover was killed by a powerful enemy, and she was assaulted by a gang that also slashed her face, ruining her looks. This story was big news in SH city at the time," Wan Chunhua explained.

After hearing this, Ye Qian glanced at the owner, who was busy at the grill with a constant smile on her face—a calm, serene smile. "Maybe she's finally found her peace and is happy now," Ye Qian commented softly. Sometimes, simplicity was a form of happiness.

Wan Chunhua paused, pondering Ye Qian's words and finding some truth in them. Zhao Tiezhu just smiled simply without comment. Fu Junsheng looked at the owner and added softly, "She's a good woman."

Ye Qian was momentarily taken aback, not fully understanding Fu's remark, but he agreed inwardly. When the glamour fades, the ability to endure solitude marks a good woman, and he admired the owner's strength.