1398 What Kind of Att.i.tude Was That?

It was rare that he discovered that Qiao Nan was bluffing. Deng Wenchang would definitely jump in to expose her lies. If not, he would be letting himself down.

“I…” She did know the people in the photo. Otherwise, she would not be taken aback.

“Hehehe…” Deng Wenchang sneered. “Qiao Nan, that is such an outdated way of striking up a conversation. Could it be that you want to say that you saw them in your dreams? Furthermore, they have yet to reach China. Do you really intend to use this kind of method to strike up a conversation? At the very least, you should wait until they have reached. It is still too early to try to please them.”

Indeed, she was only good at sucking up to other people. Apart from that, she was a fool without any use.

Everyone in the ministry knew that Qiao Nan did not go for overseas study and she had not ventured out of the country before. If that was the case, how could she be so thick-skinned to say that she knew the amba.s.sador who was coming to the country?

She bragged without thinking. She might look smart, but she was just a fool.

Qiao Nan had not been to other countries and she did not go on overseas study. Since she said that she knew the foreign couple, the only possibility was her seeing them in her dream.

Deng Wenchang was very harsh toward Qiao Nan. Although she was wrong in the first place, He Yi felt that as a man, Deng Wenchang should not argue a point to death. It was ungentlemanly of him to do that. “Xiao Deng, Xiao Qiao didn’t make any outrageous comments. You should not be so agitated. We all know that you returned from overseas study. In modernizing the country and learning from other countries, we believe in keeping what is good and discarding the rest. As the country that is known as a state of etiquette and ceremonies, we have good practices. But I feel that Chinese men should learn from foreigners to be gentlemanly.”

Deng Wenchang curled the corners of his lips. “From the first day that I joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am very clear that I will have to receive men and even heroines like Qiao Nan in the future. However, nothing is more important than the country’s interests. In my opinion, gender doesn’t matter. Only nationality matters.”

Since he did not care if the guest was male or female, all the more he would not care about being a gentleman.

Even if he was to behave like a gentleman, he would not be so foolish to be a gentleman to women like Qiao Nan.

Deng Wenchang sounded burly and rude. It was as if he was about to get into a quarrel with He Yi. As the source of the problem, Qiao Nan stopped He Yi. “Deng Wenchang, since you seem to be highly principled, I hope that at the very least, you could be scrupulous in separating public from private interests. Don’t mix emotions with work. I merely said a few ‘I’ after taking a glance at the photo. I have yet to complete my sentences. Deng Wenchang, how do you know what I am going to say?”

Many people heard and saw what had happened between them. As long as she did not complete her sentence, no matter what she was really thinking, she could deny Deng Wenchang’s accusation.

“Deng Wenchang, I feel that you have misunderstood me. I didn’t say that I know them. I am just surprised that the photo was taken very well, and I find them to be familiar. That’s all. Deng Wenchang, aren’t you being too sensitive?”

Seeing that Deng Wenchang was so agitated, Qiao Nan could not be bothered to tell him that she knew the couple in the photo.

She did not say anything yet and Deng Wenchang could not wait to drag her out to criticize and denounce her publicly for her errors. If she made further comments, he might lash out at her ancestors and all the teachers who used to teach her in the past.

“That’s right. Deng Wenchang, you are being too sensitive.”

“Xiao Qiao only said a few ‘I’, but you are so agitated.”

“Deng Wenchang, it is good that the youngsters have a mind of their own. Didn’t you say that after joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you only look at the bigger picture and will not take issues with minor matters? If that’s the case, all of us hope that you will stand united with us and fight for the best interests of the country. Isn’t it better this way?” He Yi reminded Deng Wenchang earnestly.

Deng Wenchang was being too aggressive. Everyone could tell from the surprised look on Qiao Nan’s face that she was about to say that she knew them. But Deng Wenchang was too agitated. He interrupted Qiao Nan several times such that she could not complete her sentence.

In that case, Qiao Nan could take advantage of the situation and deny his accusations.

Deng Wenchang smiled grimly. “Fine, I merely made a few comments and all of you reb.u.t.ted me. I can never win against all of you. You can say whatever you please. After all, Qiao Nan is the only woman in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and she needs your care and concern, right?” He would not treat women differently. He would not lie through one’s teeth.

“This is merely an internal discussion. We are all one family. It doesn’t matter that there is some slight misunderstanding. Qiao Nan, when the guests are here, I hope that you can be quick as before and not to fumble the ball at the critical time. That will implicate all of us. It is getting late. Minister He, is there anything else? If not, can I knock off now?”

Deng Wenchang did not wish to stay a minute longer at the ministry. Deng Wenchang was jealous and envious of the way the older colleagues treated Qiao Nan. They seemed to treat her as if she was a gem.

Since he could not get along with them, he would rather stay away from them. Even if one broke his bones, he would not go against his conscience like the older colleagues to flatter Qiao Nan. Since it was time to knock off from work, he would rather go back home to do the research by himself instead of wallowing in the mire with them, telling lies against his conscience.

Deng Wenchang made a mountain out of a molehill from what happened just now. Everyone who knew it would find it to be a joke. However, as the party concerned, Deng Wenchang was oblivious to it. Now that he was given the opportunity, he would make use of it to outperform Qiao Nan.

The couple listed in the information was Deng Wenchang’s chance to get a new lease on life. He chose to go home and try all means and ways to find out more information about the couple instead of staying in the department and listening to the older colleagues as they flattered Qiao Nan.

He did not care to get He Yi’s approval. Since He Yi did not say anything and it was indeed the time to knock off from work, Deng Wenchang took his briefcase and the information on the foreign guests, turned his head, and was the first in the department to knock off from work.

“What kind of att.i.tude is that!”