18: Will Chapter 18 introduce me?

This question was actually not hard to answer.

Following normal logic, Qian Mengsheng only needed to wave her hand generously and say a simple "no".

But she couldn't be that composed right now.

Because she was indeed feeling guilty.

Just until yesterday, she and Zhang Qi had worked side-by-side in the same office for over half a year, and their relationship had always been very good.

The gap between the two was very obvious.

Qian Mengsheng was young and beautiful, knew how to dress, and loved life.

Zhang Qi, on the other hand, was an ordinary office worker whose energy had been drained by life and a "green tea" girlfriend.

Therefore, Qian Mengsheng had never thought of Zhang Qi in terms of a boyfriend; she called him "Master" every chance she got, purely out of gratitude and sympathy for a senior.

But the situation had completely changed now.

Zhang Qi was single.

Not only was he single, but he had suddenly become extremely wealthy—wealthy to a point that made Qian Mengsheng feel it was somewhat unreal.

In all fairness, Zhang Qi's appearance could only be considered average; although his features were regular, compared to a top-tier beauty like Qian Mengsheng, who could make people turn their heads on the street, there was still a gap.

However, wealth is the best cosmetic surgery for a man.

It can instantly smooth over any gap in appearance or class.

Especially after the experience this afternoon.

Zhang Qi had taken her from Zegna's high-end custom suits to Berluti's leather shoes, and then to a Vacheron Constantin watch worth over two hundred thousand.

Although Zhang Qi was spending it all on himself, this was undoubtedly showing her his terrifying financial power in the simplest and crudest way.

The relaxed demeanor he displayed when swiping his card without even blinking made Qian Mengsheng's head spin.

Spending hundreds of thousands in a single day.

How rich must one be to treat hundreds of thousands like a few hundred?

What was even more critical was what happened later.

Zhang Qi had casually given her an LV bag worth twenty-five thousand eight hundred.

The bag was now sitting on the chair beside her, emitting the scent of expensive leather.

This act of giving such a precious gift, no matter how one explained it, carried a hint of ambiguity.

Zhang Qi had awakened a system, seen through the vanity of the world, and had a rock-solid mindset; giving a bag was as casual as buying a cup of milk tea to him.

But Qian Mengsheng couldn't do that.

She didn't have a cheat code; she was just an ordinary girl who had recently graduated and earned a meager salary of ten thousand-plus a month.

Faced with this kind of financial power that felt like a dimensional strike, and the subtle, lingering ambiguity, her young heart had inevitably fallen a little bit.

So, when Su Ran asked that question bluntly, Qian Mengsheng panicked.

She took a few deep breaths, trying hard to suppress the messy pink bubbles in her mind.

She wasn't the type of materialistic girl who would disregard everything for money, after all.

"Ranran, don't joke around."

Qian Mengsheng tried to make her voice sound steady.

She looked at Su Ran and began to explain with a serious expression.

"This is Zhang Qi, Brother Qi."

"He is my master at the company; he takes special care of me, just like I told you."

"He is not my boyfriend, so don't try to play matchmaker and make everyone feel awkward."

After saying this, Qian Mengsheng picked up the lemonade in front of her and took a sip to cover her nervousness.

After hearing this, Su Ran's delicate eyebrows arched slightly.

She didn't respond immediately, but instead turned her head and looked at Zhang Qi, who was sitting opposite her, with a scrutinizing gaze.

"So you are Brother Qi?"

Su Ran's tone was filled with obvious surprise.

She had heard Qian Mengsheng complain about office gossip plenty of times.

In Qian Mengsheng's previous descriptions, this "Brother Qi" was an honest person who was kind-hearted but had no prospects.

He wore pilled T-shirts bought online every day and would go downstairs to get his own takeout just to save a few yuan in delivery fees.

Most importantly, he was also used as a free ATM by a "green tea" ex-girlfriend.

This was the standard image of a pathetic office worker.

But what about the man sitting in front of her now?

He was wearing a top-tier custom suit and a luxury watch worth over two hundred thousand on his wrist.

His hairstyle was meticulously groomed, his temperament was calm and reserved, and every gesture revealed the ease of someone in a position of power.

How the hell was this a pathetic office worker?

This was clearly a rich second-generation heir experiencing life, or some kind of hidden tycoon.

Su Ran retracted her gaze and turned to look at her best friend beside her.

"You little rascal."

Su Ran extended a fair finger and tapped Qian Mengsheng on the forehead.

"When you mentioned Brother Qi to me before, you described him as so ordinary, practically worthless."

"Are you trying to throw a smoke bomb in front of me on purpose?"

"With such a high-quality man, you're hiding him away—are you afraid I'll snatch him?"

Su Ran's personality was just like that.

She seemed carefree, but she was actually very sharp.

She was extremely accurate at reading people.

Qian Mengsheng's panicked, blushing, and water-sipping cover-up had all been seen by her.

She knew her best friend too well.

Qian Mengsheng definitely had feelings for this Brother Qi.

Since she had seen through it, Su Ran decided to point it out directly and, while she was at it, help her best friend probe this man's background.

"Come clean, what do you say?"

Su Ran leaned forward slightly, staring into Qian Mengsheng's eyes.

"Do you have feelings for Brother Qi?"

This question was asked extremely directly.

At first listen, it might even make people feel it was a bit impolite and too aggressive.

But paired with Su Ran's open and honest expression, it unexpectedly made one feel she was very sincere.

It was like a sharp knife, directly piercing through the last layer of window paper in Qian Mengsheng's heart.

Qian Mengsheng panicked.

She was truly panicked.

"Brother Qi, I... I don't!"

Qian Mengsheng turned her head abruptly to look at Zhang Qi, her expression looking like she was about to cry.

She was in a situation where she couldn't clear her name no matter what.

When she gossiped with Su Ran in the past, she had indeed described Zhang Qi as very ordinary, even somewhat pathetic.

But at that time, that was exactly what Zhang Qi was like.

Who could have guessed that Zhang Qi would suddenly achieve financial freedom in a single day, completing a class jump from bronze to king?

This was simply impossible to explain.

Qian Mengsheng twisted her fingers tightly under the table, her eyes becoming slightly red from anxiety.

She was terrified that Zhang Qi would be unhappy if he thought she had been bad-mouthing him behind his back.

Zhang Qi sat opposite, toying with a glass in his hand.

He watched Qian Mengsheng's look of near-distress, then looked at the pestering Su Ran beside her.

He couldn't help but find it funny.

These two best friends, one as pure as a sheet of blank paper, the other as shrewd as a fox.

It was quite interesting to see them together.

Seeing that Qian Mengsheng was about to be cornered, Zhang Qi put down the glass in his hand and comforted her in a gentle tone.

"Alright, it's fine."

He gave Qian Mengsheng a look that said "don't worry."

Seeing this look from Zhang Qi, Qian Mengsheng's tense nerves instantly relaxed.

As long as Brother Qi didn't misunderstand, it would be fine.

After comforting Qian Mengsheng, Zhang Qi turned to look at Su Ran, speaking with a tone that carried a touch of teasing and helplessness.

"What is going on with you two?"

"Just a moment ago while ordering food, Mengmeng told me she wanted to introduce her beautiful best friend to me."

"But look at you, the moment you walked in, you started trying your hardest to set me and Mengmeng up."

Zhang Qi spread his hands, putting on a hurt expression.

"What's the deal?"

"Am I really that unwelcome to you two, a hot potato that you're pushing back and forth?"

Once these words were out,

The atmosphere in the private room changed instantly.

Su Ran, who had been aggressive and controlling the rhythm of the whole conversation, was clearly stunned.

Her long, beautiful eyes widened slightly.

"Huh?"

Su Ran let out a startled monosyllable, pointing her fair, slender finger at herself with a look of utter astonishment.

"Are you introducing me?"