Chapter 37: A Visit to the President's Office

"Of course I remember, it was so impressive. That was the President of the United States' office, after all. Not many people get the chance to see it, even in photos," Chen Geng said with a smile.

Although Chen Geng was joking, Gao Yueming clearly didn't think he was. On the contrary, he sincerely believed that Chen Geng was right. If it were him, he would also be deeply impressed by the opportunity to see the President of the United States' office, even just in photos. He agreed wholeheartedly, "You're right. Even just seeing photos would be a great honor. That's the President of the United States' office, just like the offices of our country's leaders, filled with secrets."

Damn, can you really compare them like that? Chen Geng felt that the situations in China and the United States were completely different, and it wasn't appropriate to compare the offices of the two countries' highest leaders.

But not only did Gao Yueming think the comparison was natural, Yang Lei and Zhang Xiangyang also nodded in agreement, looking as if it was the most reasonable thing to do.

Uh... well, as long as you're happy. Seeing their expressions, Chen Geng immediately gave up on correcting their views.

"Mr. Chen, what's the President of the United States' office like?" Gao Yueming looked like a curious child. "Is it full of high-tech gadgets? And, is there the President's nuclear briefcase inside?"

Nuclear briefcase? Chen Geng was amazed by Gao Yueming's imagination: The President would put the nuclear briefcase in the office for people to see? What are you thinking?

Not only was Gao Yueming very curious about the President's office, but Yang Lei and Zhang Xiangyang, who were hearing about it for the first time from Chen Geng, were also extremely curious. "Yeah, the President's office must be full of high-tech gadgets, right?"

Chen Geng wasn't known for his patience, but at this moment, he was unusually patient. "You're all mistaken. The President of the United States' office is definitely luxurious, after all, it's the office of the leader of the most powerful country in the world. However, it's luxurious without being extravagant. The interior is quite simple, but the materials and decorations are very carefully chosen. As for high-tech equipment, I'm sure there is some, but it's not obvious. I imagine these things might be disguised as a vase or a painting on the wall. On the surface, it's just like a well-decorated office. The nuclear briefcase definitely follows the President wherever he goes; it wouldn't be left in the office for people to see."

Gao Yueming nodded repeatedly, fully agreeing with Chen Geng. This is the office of the most influential political figure in the world, filled with secrets. But as Chen Geng said, even if there are secrets or high-tech gadgets, you wouldn't know about them.

After a pause, Gao Yueming cautiously asked, "Mr. Chen, I'm being presumptuous, but if you were to draw the President's office from memory, could you do it?"

He used the respectful "you" when addressing Chen Geng.

Chen Geng thought for a moment, seemingly recalling the details of the photos. After a while, he looked up confidently. "No problem, I still remember the details clearly. What? Director Gao, are you interested?"

"A little..." Gao Yueming seemed a bit embarrassed.

"Alright, Director Gao, go get some paper and a pen, and I'll draw a simple diagram for you. It'll be more intuitive."

What a good guy!

Gao Yueming was almost moved to tears by Chen Geng's quick agreement. He had been thinking of ways to achieve his goal, but he didn't expect Chen Geng to be so willing. He quickly fetched a pencil and a sheet of A4 paper, still a bit nervous. "Mr. Chen, is this enough? Do you need a bigger sheet of paper?"

Chen Geng pretended not to know what Gao Yueming was up to and said, "This is fine. It's just a rough sketch to get the idea across."

As a car designer from the 1980s, drawing and sketching were essential skills. Although Chen Geng didn't plan to recreate the President's office in great detail, his foundation was solid. With just a few strokes, the Oval Office began to take shape.

While drawing, Chen Geng explained to Gao Yueming, "The President's office is oval-shaped. The door is here... this is the window, and in front of the window is the President's desk... over there is the carpet with the Presidential Seal... and in front of that are two facing sofas... and here... that's basically it..."

Yang Lei and Zhang Xiangyang, who had been curious and crowded around to watch, couldn't help but comment when Chen Geng finished. "This is the President's office? I thought it would be more impressive. Is that it?"

Before Chen Geng could respond, Gao Yueming, looking serious, began to educate Yang Lei and Zhang Xiangyang. "Young comrades, you don't understand. The layout may seem simple, but every detail is carefully considered."

With the "President's Office" halo, Gao Yueming found everything in the office more appealing.

"Really?" Yang Lei turned to Chen Geng, clearly more trusting of him than Gao Yueming.

"Indeed, it's very carefully designed," Chen Geng nodded. "These simple elements actually use sophisticated psychological and behavioral techniques to create a serious and grand atmosphere, reflecting the dignity of a great nation's leader, while not making people feel too distant. Even the furniture is custom-made, unique, and impossible to buy."

"That's right, that's right..."

Gao Yueming nodded absentmindedly... If he could decorate the director's office like the President's office, would there be any need to consider other designs? He casually asked Chen Geng, "By the way, Mr. Chen, I heard the President's desk has a lot of history?"

"Oh, you mean the Resolute Desk. It does have a lot of history."

"The Resolute Desk? You really know about it?" Gao Yueming was surprised. He had just mentioned it casually, but he didn't expect Chen Geng to know the story. He only knew a little about the desk, that it was a significant gift from the British Queen, but he didn't know it was called the Resolute Desk or its full story.

"I know a bit. Mr. John told us a lot about this desk."

"Is it famous?" Yang Lei asked.

"Very famous, extremely famous," Chen Geng nodded. "The desk is also called the Resolute Desk. It was a gift from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom to President Hayes of the United States. It's very meaningful, a symbol of the friendship between the two countries."

"Then... why did the British Queen give a desk to the President of the United States?"

Chen Geng didn't answer immediately but turned to Gao Yueming. "Director Gao, you seem to know a lot about this desk?"

Gao Yueming waved his hands. "I don't want to show off in front of Mr. Chen. I've only heard that the desk was a gift from the British Queen to the President, but I don't know the details or why it's called the Resolute Desk. I'm also very curious... Mr. Chen, can you tell us more about this desk?"

Chen Geng didn't hesitate. "The desk is called the Resolute Desk because the wood used to make it came from a British Royal Navy ship called the HMS Resolute."

How did it get involved with a warship? And a British Royal Navy warship? The three curious people were even more puzzled.

"The story goes back to 1853. The HMS Resolute, a British Royal Navy ship, was lost in the Arctic but was fortunately rescued by an American whaling ship, avoiding a tragic shipwreck. The U.S. Congress then returned the HMS Resolute to the British government. After the ship was decommissioned, the wood from its hull was used to make a desk. In 1880, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom gifted this desk to President Hayes of the United States. Because the wood came from the HMS Resolute and due to the ship's legendary history, the desk is called the Resolute Desk and is considered a symbol of the friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom."

So that's the story! The three people finally understood.

Gao Yueming sighed. "Now that you mention it, the desk is indeed a 'symbol of friendship between the two countries.'" He paused and then said to Chen Geng, "Mr. Chen, I have a favor to ask."

"Go ahead, as long as I can help," Chen Geng nodded. "But Director Gao, as the head of the finance bureau, what could you need my help with?"

"Only you can help with this," Gao Yueming thought to himself. If there were any other way, would I ask you? "Here's the thing, you remember the details of the President's office, right?"

"I can't say I remember everything, but I remember the general layout," Chen Geng deliberately kept it vague. "Director Gao, what do you need? Don't be shy."

"Alright, I'll be direct," Gao Yueming finally mustered the courage, though it was hard to say. "Can you... help me recreate the office as closely as possible?"