However, if Qiao Nan remained hesitant on overseas business trips like today and could not bear to leave her kids, insisting on guarding by their side, He Yi felt that his master’s good intention would be forsaken.

  Given his current ability, he could completely transfer Qiao Nan to a role with less working hours and good benefits to give her more time to take care of her kids. There was no need to insist on making little junior stay in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If she were to stay, she would provoke a nuisance like Deng Wenchang easily.

  “You can go home and consider it. Don’t let others down, but don’t let yourself down either. What you have to know is you should figure out clearly what you want. Don’t choose the wrong path.” Pursue whatever you wanted to. Do not hoard the role and yet not do your best in it.

  There was really no need for that.

  He Yi thought highly of Qiao Nan and felt that she could eventually assume his role. However, if Qiao Nan did not have the same intent and adopted such a lukewarm attitude, He Yi would definitely not insist and continue to nurture only Qiao Nan.

  Deng Wenchang could not be nurtured. If he could not nurture Qiao Nan too, He Yi could only recruit a few more newbies and pick a suitable candidate among them. He would handhold the person for a few years before passing him the baton.

  After hearing He Yi’s words, Qiao Nan was in a huge dilemma.

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  She was never a career-minded woman. However, Qiao Nan felt a little reluctant to give up such a rare and good opportunity that was before her. “Okay, Minister He, I will definitely consider it carefully.”

  Sensing her own inner feelings, Qiao Nan did not immediately decline He Yi’s suggestion of going on the overseas business trip.

  She had to go home and discuss this matter with her three children. Yes, she was not seeking the views of her mother-in-law, Miao Jing, but discussing this with the triplets. In fact, when Qiao Nan thought of this idea, she knew that the only thing that she needed to do was not to discuss but to find ways to persuade the triplets to make them understand and agree.

  Qiao Nan did not know if other three-year-old kids could participate in such discussions but Qiao Nan firmly believed that hers could!

  “Minister He……” Deng Wenchang raised his voice a little. “Minister He, I am available. I wish to widen my horizons. Minister He, not sure if I will have an opportunity this time?” Obviously, Qiao Nan did not wish to go, yet He Yi insisted. Why was it that He Yi was assuming airs and refusing to give him a direct response when he volunteered himself?

  He Yi smiled lightly at Deng Wenchang. “Xiao Deng, I know that you are a youngster who strives to progress and is willing to improve yourself. However, there are some rules in the department. Some matters cannot be rushed. If you really have such intentions, don’t worry. I will definitely consider you if there is a chance next time. Given your diligence, I think that day will not be too far away.”

  There were important and unimportant overseas trips.

  Like overseas business trips that were akin to touring. Deng Wenchang wished to go, but he, this old one, wanted to find a chance to rest. It was just nice then. On the contrary, he would not agree to bring him on the more important business trips even if he had seven or eight more guts.

  At the thought of the impolite action of Deng Wenchang during the last visit by the United Kingdom ambassador, He Yi’s eyelids could not help twitching a few times. Fortunately, the other party had some personal connections with Qiao Nan and was unlike past ambassadors that he had encountered, who were extremely picky and adopted an attitude of finding quarrel in a straw.

  Last time, He Yi had already given Deng Wenchang a chance. Deng Wenchang made He Yi regret it so badly that he almost wanted to sew up his mouth with a needle or turn the time back and give himself a few slaps, lest he spout nonsense again. Now, if the matter was of importance, He Yi would not treat Deng Wenchang and Qiao Nan equally just because they were both newbies unless his brain was damaged. Just because he gave Qiao Nan an opportunity to perform, it did not mean that he had to give Deng Wenchang a chance too.

  He Yi had decisively killed such ‘simple and innocent’ thoughts.

  Having said his piece, He Yi returned to the office and did not bother about Deng Wenchang anymore. After July, Deng Wenchang’s relationship with the team had been getting worse and worse. It had reached the stage whereby almost everyone did not want to be near him.

  As such, Deng Wenchang, who had a stomach full of grievances, could not find a confidant in the department to air his woes and complaints. He had no choice but to carry out his old trick again: casting resentful and sinister sideways glances at Qiao Nan as if all the unfair treatment that he had received was all ‘thanks’ to Qiao Nan.

  Such an obvious stare had fallen on her. Qiao Nan was not a corpse. She could feel it without even lifting her head.

  She had been well-trained. Although Qiao Nan did not have the capability to master the skills of forming an impenetrable shield or iron cocoon around her, under such intense stare by Deng Wenchang, she could still endure, play dumb, and focus on her tasks at hand.

  At dismissal time, Deng Wenchang stopped Qiao Nan. “Comrade Qiao Nan, do you have time? Let’s go for tea and have a chat?”

  “Not available!” She was hesitating when facing He Yi. However, she did not even need to think when facing Deng Wenchang. She flatly declined him.

  Just as Qiao Nan was leaving, Deng Wenchang quickened his steps and continued to block Qiao Nan’s way. “Qiao Nan, one cannot be so unreasonable. Don’t you think so? You should spare some mercy to others. There is a saying of not creating bad blood as we may meet again in the future. If you are too extreme, bad things can easily happen.”

  Qiao Nan was both angry and amused. Did he take her for an eighteen-year-old teenage girl by threatening her in this way?

  “It’s not a problem for me to relent a little. However, I am worried that if I do that, once you grab a bit of chance, you will use all ways and means to take over everything that I have and force me into an impasse. If I relent on this kind of person, aren’t I considered being cruel to myself? I personally dig a pit then. When the other party pushes me into the pit, I still have to take action to bury myself?”

  “That won’t happen!” Deng Wenchang’s expression changed. He refused to admit that he was that kind of person. “Qiao Nan, don’t think of others in such a bad light. We are both youngsters and should understand each other more. I admit that my attitude toward you is very bad previously. But you can’t blame me too. Minister He is biased toward you. Anyone with eyes can tell. I am dissatisfied and vented my frustration on you. It’s not strange at all.”

  Qiao Nan rubbed her forehead. “Are you done? If you are, I am going home now. I am just a fresh graduate little girl. You should know my address very well now. Since you know, can I trouble you to give way? My three children at home are waiting for me.”