Chapter 13 Is it because of me?

It was a quiet cafe, old Thai folk songs were played, reverberating in the space which was full of dim light.

Luoshui Lin was sitting by the window. A cup of coffee was on the table in front of her, and a locally grown rose was in the vase, blooming beautifully.

I walked towards her, looking at her face, which seemed more gentle and beautiful in the mild light.

She stood up and showed me a smile which I was quite familiar as sweet as ever.

I nodded at her and sat down.

We didn't greet each other with "there you are" or "how are you" or any nonsense during the entire process.

"What can I get for you, sir?"

A Thai waiter in an embroidered costume came over and asked politely in Thai.

"Do you have elephant beer?" I asked in Thai as well.

"Yes, sir."

"I’d like to have a bottle, please."

"Yes, sir, just a moment, please."

After the waiter walked away, Luoshui finally seemed to find the opening line and said to me with a smile, "I almost forgot that you speak Thai very well."

I laughed, "Understandable, it would be abnormal if you hadn't forgotten."

Luoshui heard the sarcasm in my words and her face was bleak for a moment.

I didn't say anything and took out my cigarette case, pulling out a cigarette in my mouth.

"Smoking is forbidden here." Luoshui suddenly reminded me.

It just came to me that smoking was prohibited in all indoor public places in Thailand, also in crowded places on the streets, even on the beaches. If being caught, not only would I be fined, but I could even be sentenced to jail.

Reluctantly putting my cigarette back, I asked bluntly, "What is it you want to see me about?"

Luoshui was hesitating, "Are you working for Sea Smart Software Company now?"

"Yes."

"Why?" She suddenly asked unaccountably.

I found it interesting, "To earn money, what else could it be?"

She glanced at me with a complicated look that I couldn’t understand, then lowered her head and remained silent.

The waiter brought up the beer. I poured myself a cup of beer and took a sip.

She also took a small sip from her coffee cup.

She suddenly spoke again: "Tom, I just want to know... you decided to join Sea Smart Software Company and come to Chiangmai, is it because of me? "

"Because of you?" I was stunned, a little confused.

"I broke up with you, so you came to Chiangmai and joined Sea Smart Software Company to negotiate the project of BTT Group. You... you hate me, am I right?"

I was startled, then laughed, and soon felt pathetic and sad.

For myself.

It turned out that I was such a horrible person in her eyes.

However, I still couldn’t forget her and wanted to see her. How stupid I was.

I was a fucking idiot.

I didn't want to answer Luoshui's question because I didn't know how to answer it.

She was half right, I did get involved in the project of BTT Group because of her.

"Tom, I'm so sorry." She apologized again.

"Huh." I sneered and drank the glass of beer in one gulp.

I thought it was time to leave.

"I heard that you're not welcome at Sea Smart Software Company. Is that true?" Luoshui suddenly asked.

I was a little shocked.

Luoshui must know what had happened in the meeting room this afternoon, otherwise she wouldn't have asked this.

When a project team is discussing about the project, sensitive events that happen within the group are never allowed to spread out, let alone to competitors.

It seemed that there was a spy in the project team of Sea Smart Software Company, or at least someone who was close to Luoshui or Wenhuai Cao.

Not noticing the change in my facial expression, Luoshui said, lowering her head.

"Tom, if you're not pleased working over there, come to our company! Our company is not inferior to Sea Smart Software Company in size and power. If you're willing to come over, you'll definitely get a higher salary."

Hearing her words, I couldn't help but shake my head and laugh, "Did you hear something about me? You want me to help you and your fiance win that project, right?"

Luoshui raised her head and looked into my eyes. She felt a tiny bit guilty, but quickly lowered her head again.

"I'm sorry." She apologized again, which was a familiar work for her to do with ease.

At this time, a rhythmic footstep approached from behind, and a man's voice with confidence and even conceit came out, "Mr. Fang is really clever and straightforward."

I turned back and saw Luoshui's fiance, President Cao, with that confident smile on his face which I kind of abhorred.

"Let me introduce myself again, my name is Wenhuai Cao."

He walked up to me and handed me a gilded and carved business card.

I didn't take it, but looked at him silently.

Wenhuai didn't take the card back either, still wearing the conceited smile which was disgusting to me.

After a few moments, I suddenly smiled and took his exquisite business card.

Wenhuai Cao, Deputy General Manager of Mandicol IT Company.

He turned out to be deputy manager of a foreign company. No wonder he was so conceited, he looked like he was only in his thirties. Being in such a high position at such a young age, he was qualified to be conceited.

"President Cao, you wouldn't want to poach me from Sea Smart Software Company, would you?" I put away his business card and asked with a smile.

"Ha ha ha." Wenhuai laughed without answering my question, but sat next to Luoshui, looked at me and asked, "Mr. Fang, I was originally wondering why President Bai would suddenly hire a newcomer from China. But after realizing that you and Mr. Shadisong from BTT Group are getting along pretty well, especially after hearing that President Bai has asked you to play the leading role on tomorrow's meeting with BTT Group, I finally understand.”

"If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Fang must know another executive of BTT Group who is in a higher position than Shadisong, or you have some key information about the BTT Group's automatic management technology, am I right? Mr. Fang."

I was stunned and felt ridiculous, Wenhuai was really a conceited idiot who was over-confident in his associative ability.

But to be honest, it was not strange that he had such a thought. After all, because of the intrigues of business world, every action, every piece of information of the opponent could be used, analyzed and hugely magnified.

I came to Chiangmai alone for Wendy. It was just an accident that I met Mr. Shadisong and it was even more unexpected that I was appreciated by Shadisong. Wendy let me to take the lead while negotiating was just because she had no other way. But all these accidents and coincidences would make people who didn’t know the truth wonder. Wenhuai was thinking about these were my schemes for commercial competition.

Seeing that I didn’t say a word, Wenhuai thought he had guessed right. Hence, he smiled confidently, and said, "Mr. Fang, let me get this straight. Come to Mandicore with us, as long as you can win project of BTT Group, we’ll meet any condition you want."

"Any condition? Really?" I pretended to be surprised and asked in reply.

Wenhuai spread out his hands, "You can make your requests right now."

I smiled faintly and deliberately looked towards Luoshui.

Luoshui's face turned pale and quickly turned her head to look out the window, with an extremely complicated look at that moment.

"Only for working conditions."

Wenhuai seemed to have read my mind. Thinking that I would ask him to give Luoshui back to me, he added abruptly and hurriedly.