Chapter 8 – Impressions

"Sister Liu, did you pack a lunch today?" Chen Xinyu asked, sliding his glasses down the bridge of his nose as he watched her pull a thermal container from the office refrigerator.

"I did. My husband made it," she replied. "Have you two ordered delivery yet?"

"I'm so envious," Xiao Zhou lamented, her face a mask of mock sorrow. "Who is going to cook for me?"

"Hurry up and find a boyfriend, then."

"Where am I supposed to find one? We're heading out on another business trip this afternoon. I just ordered a quick-service salad… consider it a diet."

Qi Yanze stood up, turning his head as he heard her. "Sister Zhou, where exactly is this 'fat' you're talking about? Your figure is wonderful."

"God, the handsome college boy really knows how to talk," Xiao Zhou chirped, her mood instantly lifting. "Actually, it is not just about the diet. Once we arrive tonight, we have to have dinner with the brokerage and the auditors. I heard they chose a great restaurant, so I am saving my appetite for then."

"What about you, Xiao Qi? Want to head down to the food court in the basement with me?" Chen Xinyu glanced at him.

"I can't this afternoon, Brother Chen. I have an appointment."

"Oh… ? With who? Don't tell me it is that 'target' of yours."

Qi Yanze offered a mysterious blink but remained silent.

"Tch, fine then. I'll go find Lawyer Zhao from the group next door," Chen Xinyu said, stretching his arms as he walked toward the other side of the office.

At this hour, the mall was a river of City A’s white-collar professionals, a sea of elite suits weaving through the corridors with practiced, detached efficiency. They moved like mechanical components in a vast, indifferent machine of steel and glass, stripped of individual warmth.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Qi Yanze gave Xie Chengyun’s name, and the receptionist led him inside.

"Are the dishes served already?" Qi Yanze asked, slightly surprised by the spread already laid out on the table.

"Mr. Xie ordered our signature dishes in advance. He mentioned he wanted them served early to avoid cutting into your lunch break. He also said that if you wish to add anything else, you should just let us know."

"It is fine. This is plenty, thank you." Qi Yanze offered a nod to the waiter.

Once the waiter departed, he leaned back in his chair and checked a message from Lin Zifan. His friend mentioned that the second round of funding was nearly secured. One detail made Qi Yanze chuckle: the lead investor was actually Lin Zifan’s father’s company. The other was a random investor Lin Zifan had scouted who held less than ten percent. It was essentially a "startup" funded by daddy’s wallet.

Lin Zifan wanted him to review a few newly signed contracts for any glaring issues and asked him to accompany him to another pitch with prospective investors over the weekend. For Qi Yanze, these clients were essentially falling from the sky.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

A deep male voice sounded from above. Qi Yanze looked up to see Xie Chengyun. The lawyer had removed his blazer, draping it over a chair, revealing the faint lines of muscle beneath his crisp dress shirt.

"Not at all. The finest delicacies always make the grandest entrance," Qi Yanze said, pocketing his phone. His gaze fell openly and shamelessly upon the man’s physique.

Xie Chengyun chose to ignore the blatant appraisal. "I ordered a few signature items. If they aren't to your taste, feel free to order something else."

"No, I love Sichuan cuisine. You really know me, Lawyer Xie."

"…We leave for City C this afternoon. The food there is much more authentic. Is your luggage packed?"

"All set. By the way, is there anything I should keep in mind for the on-site stay?"

"Just keep your energy up. It can be quite tedious. You’ll likely be cooped up in a room with the brokerage team for constant coordination. However, you might meet some interesting people during the interviews; it all depends on who the client assigns to us." Xie Chengyun picked up a piece of poached beef with his chopsticks. "Capital markets are inherently dull. Your mindset is everything."

"Lawyer Xie, I am curious. Why didn't you go into litigation?"

"I wanted to at first. I thought handling different cases, standing in court, and engaging in a battle of wits and words sounded exciting. But as you know, the mainland system is quite different from the Common Law systems of the UK and US."

Qi Yanze laughed at that. "I understand. So, was that the main reason?"

"Not entirely." Xie Chengyun shook his head with a smile. "My family is quite traditional. They felt I should study finance. Now that I am doing IPOs at a law firm, I suppose I’ve reached the same destination through a different path."

"Indeed. Though I suspect you would be the 'dragon among men' in any field, Lawyer Xie."

"Thank you for the praise. You youngsters are the true standouts. For instance, you have very high emotional intelligence, Xiao Qi. Combined with your capability, your path will only grow wider."

"You have such a high opinion of me?"

"I’ve heard the others praising you, and it is the truth." Fearing the intern might read too much into it, Xie Chengyun added, "And then there is…"

"And the fountain pen I gave you when I arrived?"

"Mhm."

"Do you know why I gave it to you, Lawyer Xie?" Qi Yanze suddenly set down his chopsticks, propping his chin on his hand as he watched him.

"Was it not an introductory gift and a birthday present?"

Qi Yanze shook his head, his lips curling into a smirk. "To harbor a love of the finest caliber, one must first possess an intention of the same grade."

The subtext was clear: it was a gift meant for love at first sight. Xie Chengyun met that direct, piercing gaze. Just before his heart could be stirred into a faster rhythm, he hurriedly lowered his eyes, filling his bowl with a large helping of food. Fortunately, the younger man was tactful enough not to press the point, shifting the topic naturally.

"I know you transferred back to the mainland from a famous foreign firm. I am curious why you made that choice."

"Does your background not also suit a foreign firm better? You haven't even taken the domestic bar yet."

Qi Yanze paused for a heartbeat, then grinned broadly. "Oh, my home is in City A. I didn't want to come back to China only to keep working in a Hong Kong-based foreign firm. Besides, my uncle doesn't have any close friends in the foreign firms here."

A moment ago, Xie Chengyun had found him incredibly mature; now, he realized the boy still possessed the heart of a child who missed home.

"I see." Xie Chengyun dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "Choices are personal. Foreign firms are busier—constant drafting and revising of prospectuses. You have to package the listing company to perfection. Pulling all-nighters until dawn is routine. While being a domestic firm for the issuer isn't much better, for me personally, I can balance work and life slightly better than before. My current role is more like a quality inspector. And like you, my family and friends are all here in City A."

"Everyone tried to discourage me from capital markets at first because the overtime is horrific. But after interning for a few days, it seems more manageable than I imagined."

"It depends on the team. As long as the division of labor is clear, tasks are coordinated, and the partners are reasonable, it can be relatively easy. Of course, 'easy' is a relative term."

…

Aside from the occasional suggestive remark Qi Yanze would weave into the conversation, the two of them were remarkably compatible in their dialogue.

They covered a lot of ground over the meal. To Xie Chengyun’s surprise, Qi Yanze was exceptionally pleasant company. The young man was knowledgeable, and thanks to his education and background, his insights were quite mature. Xie Chengyun found himself listening intently to stories of Qi Yanze’s studies in the US, and they spent time comparing the differences between the British and American educational systems.

Between the meal and the previous incident at the bar, Xie Chengyun’s impression of him was undergoing a subtle, subconscious transformation. By the time they finished, he felt a lingering sense of wanting to continue the conversation. Unfortunately, the lunch break was far too short. They had a flight to City C that afternoon for several days of on-site work, and no matter how much they wanted to talk, they had to return to pack.

The plane touched down in City C at 6:00 PM. Aside from Qi Yanze and Xie Chengyun, who were glued to their laptops working throughout the flight, the rest of the team had fallen asleep. Their seats were scattered across the cabin. As they queued in the aisle to deplane, Qi Yanze only called out to Chen Xinyu, who was seated nearest to him.

After landing, a vehicle from the client’s side arrived to take them to the hotel. Qi Yanze noticed that Xie Chengyun didn't board the same car. Someone had stepped toward the lawyer and was speaking to him. Qi Yanze watched in silence as Xie Chengyun—exhausted from work but still exuding an air of spirited confidence—spoke to the man.

"Xiao Qi, we're having hot pot tonight. Can you handle spicy food?" Sister Liu asked, still yawning as they boarded the car.

"I am not very good with extremely spicy stuff."

"I saw Xiao Qi working on the plane. These interns are going to drive us into the ground with their competitiveness."

"Really?"

"That is what I saw from the back seat before I fell asleep."

"No, no. I just wanted more free time to rest once we got back tonight."

"When I first started, I gave myself a to-do list every day. It turns out, a lawyer's work is like a spring—it never stops flowing. It is never finished," Sister Liu shrugged. "But you're an intern, so it is fine. You just have to complete what’s assigned to you."

"Is this your intern?" The man driving turned back to look at them. "He is so handsome. If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought he was a celebrity."

"You flatter me, Brother," Qi Yanze said with a smile.

The hotel they were staying at was tucked behind a main street in the center of City C. It was adjacent to a bustling commercial area but remained quiet; once the windows were closed, the outside world vanished. The two women were assigned to the seventeenth floor, while the three men were on the floor above. Before Qi Yanze closed his door, he saw the man who had greeted them swipe a card for the room directly opposite his, wheeling luggage inside.

"Is that Lawyer Xie's room?"

"Oh, yes. He went to dinner with our Chairman." The man said as he lifted a laptop bag from the suitcase. "By the way… would you mind keeping an eye on this? I thought these were important. Even though the hotel is safe, still…"

"No problem. Leave it with me." Qi Yanze took the initiative to take the bag. "Thanks for your hard work, Brother. You've come a long way."

As he spoke, he fished a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and offered one to the man. Despite claiming he was trying to quit because his wife hated it, the man took it quite readily.

"Are you really an intern?"

"I am."

"You don't seem like a youngster who just entered society. You're so… experienced?" The man felt that Qi Yanze’s movements were far too polished. He had seen many interns—most were timid, wide-eyed, and terrified of making mistakes, constantly pestering their mentors for guidance. This young man, however, possessed a poise and a set of mannerisms that felt entirely different. He was completely at ease.

"Oh." Qi Yanze pulled the cigarette back, scratching the back of his head with a boyish, slightly sheepish smile. "Perhaps it is because my father used to take me to dinners. Some occasions required socializing, so I just got used to it."

"Then your father must be a businessman of some stature." Despite his earlier suspicion, seeing Qi Yanze’s smile made the man feel he had been mistaken; this was clearly still just a college student. "Alright, then. Keep that safe for your boss. I’m heading down. Your colleagues should know the location for dinner."

"Understood, Brother. Take care."

Qi Yanze watched the man’s retreating back as he prepared to light the cigarette. He closed the door, his eyes turning dark and focused as he looked down at the laptop bag.