Chapter 121: A Fireworks Extravaganza

A flash of surprise crossed Zheng Qian's face. Was this really what Xia Xixi had come to find him for?

He admitted that he had indeed been enjoying himself in the Maldives all these days, but he hadn't expected Xia Xixi's reaction to be so intense. Wasn't it a good thing he was taking her out to have fun?

Eating such expensive food, staying in such a nice hotel, and experiencing so many marine activities.

A normal person would be having so much fun they'd forget to go home, so why was she still obsessing over work?

Even a strong woman like Xu Shuyun had put work aside to come and relax; why couldn't she learn to give herself a break?

Xia Xixi had indeed been feeling a bit confused over the past two days, which is why she had made up her mind to find Zheng Qian and question him.

The company was currently at war with Yamei Group, yet Zheng Qian was hiding in the Maldives enjoying himself. Was this appropriate?

Absolutely not!

"Secretary Xia, I think it's necessary for me to remind you of your position. Which one of us is the boss? Who is the superior?" Zheng Qian said, breaking from his usual demeanor and reminding her solemnly.

Xia Xixi bit her red lips with her teeth, momentarily stunned by Zheng Qian's question, her face turning bright red.

"You... you are the superior."

"Since I am the superior and you are the subordinate, do you think it is appropriate for you to speak to your boss like that?" Zheng Qian asked earnestly.

"I... I actually didn't mean anything else. I just wanted to remind you that since we are here for work, we should..."

"Secretary Xia, there's no need for you to remind me of this, is there? As the company's Vice President and your direct superior, don't you think I know what I'm doing?"

"I... I thought we were friends... I meant well..."

Xia Xixi was instantly rendered speechless, her face flushed with shame, and her Favorability toward Zheng Qian began to drop bit by bit.

What was wrong with Zheng Qian today?

Usually, he was all jokes and laughter, making dirty jokes, and taking liberties with her from time to time. Why did he seem like a different person today, becoming so fierce?

Seeing Xia Xixi's Favorability drop, Zheng Qian felt relieved. Deciding that was enough, he left the room.

Xia Xixi was left alone in the room, her head spinning as all sorts of chaotic thoughts emerged.

She had thought that the relationship between her and Zheng Qian was no longer limited to just superior and subordinate, but she couldn't explain it in a few words.

It was a bit like friends, and a bit like a young couple just starting to feel the spark of romance.

Zheng Qian's attitude just now clearly showed he was a bit annoyed with her.

But Xia Xixi believed that no matter what Zheng Qian said, as his secretary, she had the responsibility and obligation to remind him not to indulge in pleasure.

After all, the brothers over at Zhengxin Shipyard were currently locked in a fierce battle with Yamei Group.

If Zheng Qian didn't correct his behavior, she would still stand up and condemn his actions, and she wouldn't rule out buying a plane ticket and flying straight back to Yebai.

On the fifth and sixth days of the three of them arriving in the Maldives.

In his capacity as the Vice President of Zhengxin Shipyard, Zheng Qian, accompanied by Xu Shuyun and Xia Xixi, visited several major shipping companies in the Maldives.

The Maldives had barren land and relied mainly on imports.

Goods generally coming from Jiuzhou were of high quality and inexpensive, which was very popular among the local people.

Upon hearing that the three of them were from the land of Jiuzhou, the heads of the major shipping companies all showed great enthusiasm.

Besides the land issue, transportation was also a major problem in the Maldives. As the smallest country in Asia, it was impossible to build railways. Apart from a few trucks, most transportation and shipping relied on cargo ships.

Zheng Qian gradually learned that there was a huge disparity between the Maldives' imports and exports: export volume was 300 million, while import volume was as high as 3 billion.

Food, furniture, petroleum products, electronic products, vehicles, machinery and equipment, textiles, and daily necessities basically all had to be imported.

As for heavy industry, building materials, raw timber, and the like, after all, the Maldives was such a tiny place that the annual import volume was limited.

With such a large market, Jinxiu Group wouldn't be able to get a piece of the pie.

Within the 300 million in exports from the Maldives, almost all of it consisted of fish, fruits, things like tuna, bonito, lobster, sea cucumber, and so on.

Over two days, Zheng Qian successively visited all the transport companies and understood their business models as well as the current status of imports and exports in the Maldives.

Returning to the hotel on the evening of the sixth day.

Xia Xixi although very tired, but she felt incredibly satisfied.

She felt that it was her conversation with Zheng Qian that had made a difference, and that was why Zheng Qian had started to get busy over the last two days.

Although it couldn't help with the price war, it could provide a certain foundation for the company's subsequent operations and development.

"Zheng Qian finally looks a bit like a president now. Usually, he's like a child, needing me to remind him every single day."

Xia Xixi took off her shoes, bathed, changed clothes, and prepared to get a good night's sleep.

Boom, boom, boom.

Not long after she had lain down on the bed, a loud noise rang in her ears.

Startled, Xia Xixi sat up in shock.

Outside the window, colorful fireworks were suddenly set off.

What was going on?

Setting off fireworks in the middle of the night?

Wait, this wasn't right. She was staying in a sea-view room; how could there be fireworks outside?

Driven by curiosity, Xia Xixi leaned against the window to take a look.

She was dumbfounded.

The nearby sea area was pitch black, crowded with an unknown number of ships, big and small.

The fireworks were being set off from the ships.

The sea-view room she was in was perfectly positioned to watch a fireworks feast.

This must be Zheng Qian's doing!

No one else would have such a grand gesture!

In Xu Shuyun's room.

[Spent 7,765,000 Yuan, System Cashback 77,650,000 Yuan, has been credited.]

"Wow, this is amazing!" Xu Shuyun's eyes had turned into star shapes, and her gaze toward Zheng Qian was filled with the adoration of a fangirl.

"How is it? Do you like it?" Zheng Qian put away his phone and then cupped Xu Shuyun's face.

"Mm!" Xu Shuyun nodded.

The trick of setting off fireworks was something Zheng Qian had learned from movies.

He had gradually gotten to know those CEOs in the Maldives over the past few days; how could Zheng Qian let such an opportunity pass?

And so, Zheng Qian bought up all the fireworks in the Maldives to set off for Xu Shuyun to watch.

It cost a total of 7.76 million, of which 5.26 million was for the fireworks, and 2.5 million was a fee for the shipping company CEO to mobilize the ships, which could also be considered a favor fee.

Xu Shuyun's Favorability toward Zheng Qian instantly rose to another level.

She didn't know why Zheng Qian had lied to her at the time—whether it was intentional, unintentional, or out of shyness.

None of that mattered anymore.

What was important was that Zheng Qian's performance over the past few days had left Xu Shuyun extremely satisfied.

Taking her out to eat, drink, and have fun, buying all kinds of luxury goods, even chartering the entire sea area for her to dive, and gathering so many cargo ships to set off fireworks was enough to show Zheng Qian's feelings for her.

At this moment, Xu Shuyun felt that she was the happiest woman in the world!

"Xiao Qian."

"Hm?"

"Do... do you like me?"