After My Nemesis Discovered My Cross-dressing - Chapter 1

8:00 AM, Shengtai Group Headquarters.

A low-profile black Cayenne slowly pulled up in front of the building. After the driver stepped out, he quickly circled to the other side to open the door. “President Gu,” he said.

A polished leather shoe touched the ground. Following the crease-free suit trousers upward revealed a pair of straight, slender legs.

The man who stepped out of the car had a handsome face and cold, porcelain skin. His pale irises, illuminated by the morning sun, looked like a pair of clear, translucent amber gems, exuding an air of cold detachment and aloofness. He wore a sophisticated, tailor-made black suit with his shirt buttoned meticulously to the very top, perfectly outlining his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs.

The security guard on duty straightened his back reflexively and greeted him loudly, “Good morning, President Gu!”

Gu Qian gave a slight nod and stepped into the building.

It was not quite time for work yet, so there were not many employees in the lobby. Everyone who saw Gu Qian stopped in their tracks, greeted him, and stood still, watching his elegant and upright figure depart.

As the youngest CEO in the group’s history, he had been “parachuted” into the company two years ago. Before anyone could react, President Gu had silenced the entire group with thunderous momentum.

More terrifying than his beauty was President Gu’s ruthlessness, or rather, his decisive execution.

The elevator went straight to the top floor. With a ding, the doors opened.

“Good morning, President Gu,” Assistant Liang said, who was waiting in the corridor and stepped forward.

Gu Qian acknowledged him and walked toward the CEO’s office.

Assistant Liang began reporting the day’s schedule, finally tapping his tablet. “By the way, you have an invitation to a private cocktail party at 7:00 PM tonight. Should I decline it?”

Gu Qian paused slightly and asked, “Who sent the invitation?”

Assistant Liang replied, “President Li from Zhuohui Investment.”

“Don’t decline,” Gu Qian said.

Hearing footsteps, the junior secretary in the office immediately rose and deftly opened the office door, standing aside respectfully. “Good morning, President Gu,” she said.

“Good morning,” Gu Qian replied indifferently as he walked in.

The secretary’s face flushed. She could not help but peek at President Gu’s back with bold eyes.

Assistant Liang stopped at the door. “President Gu, the materials for the 9:00 AM executive meeting are on your desk.”

After saying this, he handily closed the office door, cutting off the secretary’s infatuated gaze. “Still looking?” he asked.

At 10:30 AM, the executive meeting ended.

As Gu Qian rose to leave, the vast conference room finally came back to life from its dead silence.

Sun Cheng, the General Manager of the Strategic Development Department, plucked up his courage to follow him. “President Gu, I have one more matter to report to you,” he said.

Gu Qian glanced at him sideways without stopping his pace. “Speak in the office.”

Manager Sun nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, alright, President Gu.”

Once the office door closed, Gu Qian pulled out his chair and sat down. “Manager Sun, go ahead.”

“About this,” Sun Cheng said. Although he had already prepared his speech, he still looked nervous. “President Gu, what I want to talk about is Meng Siyao.”

When President Gu first placed this young man in the Strategic Development Department, he had not explicitly stated the boy’s identity. However, with the surname Meng and President Gu’s personal appointment, these experienced professionals in the workplace could guess some of the inside story.

“Speak,” Gu Qian said.

“It is like this. Xiao Meng has been frequently leaving his post without reason lately. He was late again this morning, and Team Leader Liu could not help but say a few words to him. Unexpectedly, Xiao Meng argued with Team Leader Liu in public and almost got physical,” Sun Cheng explained. His expression was quite troubled. “What do you think?”

“Since I placed him in the Strategic Development Department, he is an employee of your department,” Gu Qian said in a calm tone. “Do I need to teach you how to discipline a subordinate?”

“I understand, President Gu!” Cold sweat instantly broke out on Sun Cheng’s back. “You are right to scold me. I will go down and handle it immediately!”

Gu Qian withdrew his gaze. “Go.”

The office fell silent. He opened the documents on his desk and began reviewing them.

About half an hour later, the phone on the desk vibrated. Gu Qian picked it up and answered.

A young male voice exploded in his ear: “Gu Qian, did you tell Sun Cheng to dock my salary and mass-send my disciplinary notice?”

Gu Qian leaned back against his chair. “Late arrivals, early departures, leaving your post without reason, and refusing to follow management; should your salary not be docked?”

Meng Siyao was choked up for a moment and said angrily, “I was late, but that is no reason to dock half a month’s pay!”

Gu Qian’s voice was cold. “If you do not want to work, you can go home.”

“You!” Meng Siyao endured it and lowered his voice. “You know perfectly well that if I quit, the old man will not let me off the hook.”

Three months ago, his father suddenly cut off all his cards. None of those fair-weather friends who usually followed him around were reliable. He had sold everything valuable on his person, but it only lasted less than two months. He had no choice but to temporarily surrender and come to this company to clock in.

Fortunately, Gu Qian usually ignored him. He thought he could continue to drift along, but he did not expect things to get serious today.

Gu Qian let out a soft chuckle. “It is good that you know.”

The laugh was so light it was almost ungraspable. Meng Siyao’s tone softened as well. “Brother Qian, good brother, for the sake of our many years of friendship, please be kind and help me out, okay?”

“Mm.” Gu Qian tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. “How do you want me to help you?”

“Make me a Director or something. If that is not possible, even a Team Leader is barely okay,” Meng Siyao boldly made his request. “You do not know how annoying Liu Wei is. He acts all high and mighty just because he is a team leader, bossing me around all day. It is infuriating.”

“You want to run before you have learned to walk,” Gu Qian said as he stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. “However, I will give you a chance. If you can complete the new project within a month, I will give you an exceptional promotion.”

Meng Siyao shouted, “One month? Are you kidding me?”

Gu Qian looked down, taking in the scenery outside the window. “You can also choose to admit defeat and go back home.”

The sunlight outside was brilliant, but it failed to reach those cold eyes.

“Do not look down on me, Brother Qian! The word defeat does not exist in Meng Siyao’s dictionary,” he said. His competitive spirit was instantly ignited. “Fine! Just wait and see!”

After hanging up, Gu Qian returned to his desk, opened a drawer, and took out an exquisite silver box shaped like a lighter.

He flipped the lid open with his thumb, poured out a piece of fruit hard candy, and placed it in his mouth expressionlessly.

With a click, the box closed again.

At 6:30 PM, Gu Qian unusually left work early to head to the cocktail party.

The Cayenne drove steadily toward its destination. Gu Qian sat in the back seat replying to emails, his long dark lashes hidden behind his glasses casting a small shadow under his eyes.

Half an hour later, the car arrived at the hotel entrance.

Inside the magnificent banquet hall, gorgeous crystal chandeliers reflected brilliant light. Waiters carrying champagne moved through the crowd. Men and women in formal attire seemed to be chatting and laughing, but in reality, everyone had their own calculations.

The moment Gu Qian entered, the banquet hall fell silent for a second.

Soon, someone strode forward to meet him. “President Gu! Long time no see!”

Gu Qian nodded slightly. “President Li.”

Li Hao smiled and reached out to shake the slender, jade-like hand. “President Gu, I did not expect you to give me so much face tonight. I am a bit flattered!”

Gu Qian showed a faint smile. “I must give President Li face.”

“Hahaha, so my face is that big!” President Li gestured. “Come, come, President Gu, let’s go over there and chat.”

As the two walked further into the hall, they drew countless gazes.

“Hey, who is that?” someone asked.

“Gu Qian, the CEO of Shengtai Group. Do you not recognize him?” another replied.

“Really? So young and beautiful?”

“Young and beautiful? If you knew how he acquired Qingyuan Technology back then, you would know how formidable he is.”

Gu Qian turned a deaf ear to the whispers. He took a glass of champagne from a waiter and walked toward his target.

Over there, Zheng Bowen was socializing. When he caught sight of a handsome face, his eyes lit up.

“Brother Zheng, this is President Gu of Shengtai Group,” Li Hao said as he stopped and introduced them. “President Gu, this is President Zheng of Tengfei Group. I believe you have not met?”

Gu Qian maintained his smile and took the initiative. “President Zheng, I have heard much about you.”

“I do not deserve such praise.” Zheng Bowen stepped forward and shook hands with him. “President Gu, seeing you once is better than hearing about you a hundred times!”

After exchanging business cards and pleasantries, Gu Qian casually mentioned, “By the way, I heard President Zheng likes to play tennis.”

Zheng Bowen replied with a smile, “That is true. From whom did President Gu hear that?”

“What a coincidence, I like it too,” Gu Qian said. He did not answer the question but offered an invitation. “I wonder when President Zheng might have time to give me a few pointers?”

“It is just a hobby for me, purely for leisure. I cannot call it pointers.” Zheng Bowen waved his hand and agreed without hesitation. “But since President Gu has spoken, I will make time even if I do not have it.”

Just as they agreed on a time, two more investors joined their conversation.

As they chatted, Li Hao suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right, I also invited young President Qin of Huanyu Group tonight. Do you know him, President Gu?”

“Both are young talents who have achieved great things at an early age. How could they not know each other?” Zheng Bowen laughed loudly. “Old Li, these two clashed a long time ago!”

Shengtai and Huanyu both started as real estate developers. Later, their business maps expanded, eventually making them the two major leading groups in City A. Both their networks and financial strengths were neck and neck.

And Qin Yue was the Crown Prince of Huanyu Group, a chosen one born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

The first time Gu Qian clashed with Qin Yue after taking office was the Qingyuan Technology acquisition project a year and a half ago. At that time, both had their eyes on the core technology. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince was a bit too young and aggressive, becoming overconfident and ultimately losing to Gu Qian.

With that battle, President Gu made a name for himself inside and outside the industry. But for young President Qin, who had just taken over Huanyu, it was a heavy fall where he lost both face and pride.

The grudge was settled then. Since then, Shengtai and Huanyu had competed for several projects, with both sides winning and losing as if they were constantly vying in the shadows.

Until the recent “Oasis” project developed by the government, where Gu Qian and Qin Yue faced off once again.

“Oh right, I almost forgot!” Li Hao slapped his hand. “The new landmark development project in the New District; Huanyu is competing with Shengtai for that, right?”

“Indeed,” Gu Qian finally spoke, saying nonchalantly. “However, I am not close with President Qin.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he sensed another stir behind him.

“President Gu,” a deep, casual voice rang out a few seconds later. “How exactly are we… ‘not close’?”

Gu Qian’s movements paused slightly. He turned around and greeted him calmly, “President Qin.”

The newcomer was tall and commanding, standing out in the crowd. His features were handsome and sharp, with deep, three-dimensional contours. He wore a smoke-gray suit without a tie, with two buttons of his shirt undone. Holding a wine glass with one hand, he exuded an air of casual laziness, yet one that commanded respect.

Their gazes met in mid-air. Qin Yue curled his lips and raised his glass to Gu Qian from a distance. “Or are you saying, I am not worthy of your notice, President Gu?”

Gu Qian’s expression remained unchanged. “President Qin must be joking.”

The gold-rimmed glasses on his high nose bridge hid his cold, pale eyes, making it even harder to discern his emotions.

Qin Yue stared at that perfect face, one so flawless it was impossible to find a fault, and said in an ambiguous tone, “Then President Gu, do you like my joke?”

Gu Qian did not take the bait. He turned back to apologize to the others. “President Li, President Zheng, I am sorry. I have other matters tonight, so I will be taking my leave.”

“President Gu is a busy man, go ahead,” Zheng Bowen said. “Then we will see you next weekend, rain or shine?”

Gu Qian responded, “See you then.”

He turned back and gave Qin Yue a nod as an acknowledgment. As Gu Qian walked past him, a very slight breeze stirred, and Qin Yue caught a faint, cold fragrance.

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the patch of snowy-white skin on the back of Gu Qian’s neck revealed by the suit collar, then landing on those slender, beautiful hands.

“President Qin,” Li Hao finally had a chance to greet him. “I did not expect you to grace us with your presence today. It is truly an honor!”

Qin Yue withdrew his gaze. “How would I dare not give President Li face?”

“Not at all,” Li Hao waved his hand and smiled. “President Qin is too modest.”

Qin Yue swirled the wine in his glass. After a few words, he asked seemingly at random, “By the way, is President Zheng doing business with Shengtai?”

Zheng Bowen replied openly, “No, I just made a date to play ball with President Gu.”

“I see,” Qin Yue said with a half-smile. “As everyone knows, business with President Gu is not easy to do.”

Zheng Bowen also laughed. “Then we will not do business; we will just be friends.”

Seeing that he could not fish for any useful information, Qin Yue lost interest and found an excuse to leave as well.

While walking through the banquet hall, he accidentally overheard two ladies talking.

“I did not think President Gu looked scary at all tonight, unlike the rumors,” one said.

“Exactly! I accidentally bumped into him just now. Not only was he not angry, but he also helped me up and even gave me a gentlemanly smile. I almost fainted on the spot!”

Qin Yue let out a cold snort and set down his wine glass.

If he had not personally experienced Gu Qian’s methods, he would probably be like these shallow people, deceived by that cold and moving outer skin.