Chapter 32 The same trick, don't repeat it...

Jiang Nuanyu walked briskly after leaving Liang Qi's office. Peng Ze barely caught up with her when she was almost at the elevator lobby.

"Editor Jiang!" Peng Ze strode over to her side. "Where are you going? I'll send a car to take you."

"Thank you," Jiang Nuanyu said, turning her head. "But it's no trouble, I can just take a taxi."

“President Liang has been…” Peng Ze started to say, but the two of them turned into the elevator lobby and ran into Jing Yao coming out of the private elevator.

The receptionist's assistant stood up and greeted, "Mr. Yao, good afternoon."

Jing Yao didn't respond to the greeting, but turned his head and glanced at the two of them; Peng Ze nodded slightly: "President Yao".

Jing Yao ignored him as well, stared at Jiang Nuanyu for a few seconds, and then suddenly smiled: "We meet again, Editor Jiang."

Because Jiang Nuanyu still harbored negative feelings towards him from Song Lanxin's birthday celebration, she nodded slightly to him as a gesture of politeness.

Jingyao glanced at Peng Ze beside her, then looked towards Liang Qi's office behind them, chuckled softly, and turned to leave.

After everyone had gone, Peng Ze brought up the previous topic: "The cooperation project with Conti is in a critical stage of its launch. President Liang is very busy, please don't mind."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuanyu dared not accept the compliment and quickly replied, "No, absolutely not."

Speaking of Liang Qi's "busy schedule," she suddenly remembered the day he was at his house, the constant phone calls he made, and the way he was working overtime in front of the computer. A few ripples stirred in her heart again.

Peng Ze added, “If you have any questions about this collaborative reporting, please feel free to contact me anytime. Oh, or—” He took out a business card from his suit pocket and handed it to Jiang Nuanyu, “If it’s inconvenient for Editor-in-Chief Ji, you can contact me directly and I’ll make the arrangements.”

Jiang Nuanyu hesitated before accepting the business card: "...Thank you."

You're too kind.

After saying goodbye to Peng Ze, Jiang Nuanyu went downstairs alone. As she stepped out of the building, a gust of cold wind blew directly onto her forehead, instantly clearing her mind.

She was only focused on leaving quickly, but now, with the wind blowing, she's starting to care about Liang Qi.

She had planned to let those inexplicable thoughts settle down before slowly sorting them out and figuring out how to continue her relationship with Liang Qi; until then, she would avoid him for a while. But this sudden work assignment caught her completely off guard.

She couldn't help but recall Liang Qi's expression before she left; he still had that calm, indifferent yet meaningful look. She couldn't guess what he was thinking. He didn't try to stop her, but he also didn't show any displeasure.

She stood in the open space in front of the revolving door, gazing at a corner of the sky between the tall buildings, feeling extremely frustrated, but unsure who to blame. Ultimately, she could only blame herself for not being honest with herself.

Her phone vibrated, interrupting her thoughts.

As soon as the call was answered, Ye Ji asked in a light tone, "Is Editor Jiang working overtime today?"

“No overtime.” Jiang Nuanyu glanced at the increasingly congested streets. “But I’m in Xingfeng District now, and I have to go through the entire peak traffic area to get back.”

The time spent stuck in traffic is equivalent to indirectly increasing working hours.

"That's great!" Ye Ji said.

Jiang Nuanyu asked in bewilderment, "What's so good about it?"

Ye Ji chuckled, with a hint of ingratiation: "I have a dinner party in Xingfeng later, and I need Editor Jiang to support me a bit."

"What kind of dinner party?" Jiang Nuanyu asked curiously, "Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

"I'll tell you when you get there," Ye Ji said mysteriously, then added, "I'll send you the address."

After hanging up the phone, a location message quickly popped up on her phone, showing her location as Yunting Club. Jiang Nuanyu checked the navigation; it was only two blocks away from where she was.

She breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully she wouldn't be stuck in traffic for too long.

She didn't call a taxi on her phone; instead, she hailed one by the roadside. In less than ten minutes, she arrived at the place called Yunting Club.

The taxi was parked under the porch, and a uniformed waiter was greeting the newly arrived guests. As she was about to get out, the doorman opened the door for her, and she thanked him profusely.

After getting off the car, she looked at the unassuming building in front of her and became even more curious about what kind of dinner party Ye Ji had chosen in such a high-profile place.

Stepping into the hall, one is greeted by a tranquil and elegant atmosphere. The decor, from the lighting fixtures to the ornaments, is exquisite and of considerable value.

"here!"

Jiang Nuanyu turned around at the sound, and Ye Ji was sitting on the sofa in the waiting area on the other side, waving at her.

She walked over and sat down next to Ye Ji, glancing at the utensils on the coffee table. Among them was a ceramic cup that she had seen in a magazine; one of them cost over ten thousand.

"How did you get here so fast? I just arrived too," Ye Ji said.

Jiang Nuanyu glanced around again and couldn't help but ask, "What's going on? Why is it all so high-end?"

"The thing I told you about the day before yesterday is..." Ye Ji smiled, "I opened a studio. Today was a preliminary meeting with a potential client."

"Huh?" Jiang Nuanyu was genuinely surprised and asked in a daze, "What studio?"

Ye Ji draped Jiang Nuanyu's bag strap back over her shoulder, then picked up his own bag: "Let's go up first."

When they reached the elevator, Ye Ji glanced at Jiang Nuanyu, who was still frowning and looking resentful, and finally said, "It's just projects like visual planning and media communication for brands."

Jiang Nuanyu was both amused and exasperated: "Such a big thing, and you didn't let anyone know at all beforehand?"

"Didn't I already hint at it to you the day before yesterday?" Ye Ji retorted evasively.

Jiang Nuanyu was speechless. She pursed her lips and rolled her eyes, looking like a hapless bear.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Ye Ji laughed it off: "I originally wanted to wait until this project was finalized, we secured our first big order, and the studio was officially on track before telling you. Then I could proudly tell you!"

"Then why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Ye Ji said, "Yesterday I looked through the social media posts of several people in charge of the brand and found that the head of public relations who is coming to the dinner party today had shared your article a while ago, so I decided to ask you to help me out."

Jiang Nuanyu was stunned for a moment, then realized that Ye Ji was referring to her sharing article about Marie's private event.

“Marie?!” She took a slow breath, surprise, delight, and disbelief swirling in her eyes. “…Such a big client?”

Just then, the elevator arrived. Ye Ji walked in with her eyes downcast, not as excited as Jiang Nuanyu.

“Marie isn’t a brand that easily outsources its planning,” Jiang Nuanyu said incredulously. “Ye Ji, how did you do that? That’s amazing!”

"It's only the initial contact; whether it will work out is uncertain," Ye Ji said.

Jiang Nuanyu was still very excited: "Just having the opportunity to make contact is amazing!"

"Stop flattering me," Ye Ji said. "So you'll have to cover for me at this meal today."

"You're putting some pressure on me now," Jiang Nuanyu said after a moment's thought. "What do I need to do?"

"Four words—"

Jiang Nuanyu blinked, waiting.

Ye Ji turned around and said, "Act according to the situation."

Jiang Nuanyu: "..."

Another moment of silence followed.

But Ye Ji's relaxed and joking attitude made her realize her seriousness and pressure, so she stopped teasing and said, "I will do my best to cooperate."

Ye Ji raised an eyebrow: "Reliable."

The two exited the elevator and followed the waiter to the private room that Ye Ji had reserved in advance.

This is a multi-functional private room, with a round table on one side and several sofas by the window on the other, along with a bar. The overall atmosphere is sophisticated yet not overly formal. Fresh flowers adorn the round table, and a faint floral fragrance fills the air, creating a stylish ambiance.

The waiter handed over a tablet: "Ms. Ye, based on your dining preferences mentioned when you made your reservation, we have customized several sets of dishes. Please confirm whether you need any adjustments."

Ye Ji selected one of the set meals and added two cold dishes, then asked, "Any recommendations for drinks?"

"If guests prefer lighter-bodied wines, we recommend starting with a French Chardonnay; if they would like to pair it with a more robust flavor, we have a red wine in our cellar that is perfect for dining, and it's a very good vintage," the waiter explained.

Ye Ji didn't ask any more questions and decisively decided: "Then let's do it your way, one red and one white."

The waiter nodded and withdrew.

Jiang Nuanyu, resting her chin on her hand, watched Ye Ji order with great interest, and couldn't help but sigh, "You really look like a boss now. But you're quite generous." She had just glanced at the prices, and they were beyond luxurious.

Ye Ji said helplessly, "I can't be nervous when meeting a client for the first time. I have to show some sincerity."

Jiang Nuanyu was still starry-eyed, shaking her head at her teasingly. Ye Ji casually asked, "Why did you come here today?"

Jiang Nuanyu's smiling eyes suddenly froze. She looked away and sat up straight: "There's a special report, and I'll handle the content."

Her reaction was really unnatural. Ye Ji keenly sensed the gossip, pursed his lips and looked her up and down, then turned his head and glanced past her at the bag behind her.

Jiang Nuanyu said guiltily, "I really came here to work!"

Ye Ji immediately looked away, feigning innocence: "I didn't say it wasn't!"

Jiang Nuanyu stopped talking and got up to sit on the sofa.

The wait in the private room was short, but everyone arrived soon. In addition to Ye Ji and Jiang Nuanyu, there were three others: Li Wenyun, the head of public relations for Marie China; an event execution manager from the brand; and Xiao Xu, a designer from Ye Ji's team.

Although the dinner was not formal, it was significant because of the participation of senior executives from the brand.

At the dinner table, Ye Ji stood up first, raised his glass with a smile, and said, "Thank you both for being here today, especially Sister Yun, for taking time out of your busy schedules. I am truly grateful."

Ye Ji and Li Wenyun had met on another occasion before, and this time when they met, she addressed her more affectionately.

"You're too kind, Xiao Ye." Li Wenyun smiled as well. "I'll call you Xiao Ye from now on." She glanced at her companion beside her. "Since it's President Jing's recommendation, we will naturally take it very seriously."

Upon hearing the words "President Jing," Jiang Nuanyu instinctively looked at Ye Ji.

Ye Ji's eyes changed slightly, but the smile on his lips remained the same. He calmly continued, "To gain your attention is a rare opportunity for our team. We also hope that we can have the opportunity to win your approval through cooperation."

Li Wenyun gracefully raised her wine glass, nodded to Ye Ji, and didn't continue with any further pleasantries.

She has never been a fan of people who rely on connections, but sometimes she has to compromise in order to maintain those relationships.

Hearing these polite words, Jiang Nuanyu couldn't help but feel worried for Ye Ji. Li Wenyun was being polite in return, her smile was appropriate, but it just didn't feel very genuine.

Jiang Nuanyu took a sip of white wine, then thought of "President Jing" that Li Wenyun had mentioned.

She immediately thought of one possibility, but neither Tianqi's CEO nor any of them seemed to have any connection with Ye Ji.

She suppressed her curiosity and focused her attention back on the dining table.

As the dinner progressed, the group discussed Marie's overall collection for the new year. Towards the end, the conversation focused on the release of a key collection—the one Ye Ji had been working hard to secure.

At the opportune moment, with Xiao Xu's cooperation, Ye Ji introduced her preliminary plans and publicity scheme.

After listening to Ye Ji's presentation, Jiang Nuanyu found that Ye Ji's preparations were quite solid. Although it was just a plan, the overall framework was very clear and complete, highly executable, and also had a certain degree of uniqueness and differentiation.

Li Wenyun initially just nodded and listened, seemingly not showing much interest. But as the introduction progressed, the distance she had initially displayed lessened.

Jiang Nuanyu was not the main character of this social event. She observed quietly from the sidelines, but she did not forget why Ye Ji had called her here.

When Ye Ji mentioned strategies such as launching products via live streaming on social media platforms and encouraging UGC sharing, she interjected at the opportune moment: "Digital communication can indeed attract young people. Although they may not be the main purchasing power, their high online activity is still very effective in expanding brand awareness."

Upon hearing this, Li Wenyun turned to look at her and said politely, "I thought you were good at in-depth reporting, but I didn't expect you to know so much about brand communication as well."

Jiang Nuanyu knew this was just polite talk, but still smiled politely: "You're too kind. Actually, I can't really say I know much about this. I just listened to President Ye's plan, and the logic was very clear, so I immediately thought of this point, based on my past experience. I really don't know much about this area."

“It’s really good,” Li Wenyun said. “If this collaboration goes smoothly, we might be able to try more media collaborations.”

These words already revealed a certain degree of positive signal. Under the table, Ye Ji secretly pinched Jiang Nuanyu's thigh.

She hit hard, and Jiang Nuanyu winced in pain, but had no choice but to endure it, secretly patting her hand.

The two were secretly communicating, and they seemed to have a good understanding of each other.

*

The elevator lobby on the 53rd floor of Tianqi headquarters building.

Liang Qi finished his work for the day and prepared to attend a dinner party.

The receptionist assistants had all gone home, and the surroundings were quiet. His gaze fell on the numbers flashing above the elevator, and he slowly turned his neck.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps. Liang Qi stopped relaxing, straightened his back, but did not turn around.

"President Liang just got off work?" Jing Yao stood to the side, facing the elevator, and said sarcastically, "You've been quite busy with Conti's affairs lately, haven't you?"

Liang Qi turned his head, glanced at him indifferently, and looked back at the front, saying in a light tone, "Kantie's business is busy, but I also have to manage Yun Jing's original project." He then changed the subject, deliberately hitting Jing Yao's sore spot, "Where is the approval process for the outdoor diving project at?"

Jingyao's expression changed instantly.

He never proactively reported to Liang Qi on sub-projects, even though it was his duty. However, he wasn't surprised that Liang Qi would secretly keep track of the project's progress.

He said rather casually, "It's still a little short, but it's not a big problem. The customer feedback is very good right now, there's no need to wait any longer—"

“The regulatory authorities think it’s necessary,” Liang Qi interrupted directly, glancing at him. “If problems arise, the clients will also think it’s necessary.”

Jingyao turned his head back, curled his lips in disdain, and didn't speak for a moment.

Even after entering the elevator, he remained unconvinced and retorted, "This is a high-end customized project. These clients aren't new to diving; they know what they're doing—"

Liang Qi interrupted him again: "If you want to save time, quickly attract high-end customers, seize the market opportunity, and even regain your voice in Yun Jing through this project, that's fine. But don't risk the reputation of Yun Jing, or even Tian Qi."

At this point, his tone became more meaningful: "On the other hand, if something goes wrong, Yun Jing or Tian Qi might be able to handle it. Can you?"

Jingyao's jaw tightened, a dark fire burning in his eyes, but he couldn't refute Liang Qi's words.

The sub-projects he's currently managing all target high-end clients. If any problems arise, it will directly damage his reputation as the person in charge within the industry.

Although he holds the title of Vice President of Tianqi Group, he has almost no real power in the group since losing control of Yunjing at the beginning of the year. He urgently needs to achieve results in the sub-projects and cannot afford any failures.

The elevator continued its descent. Liang Qi glanced at the numbers on the display screen and said, "I'll handle the safety permit issue. This is the only time; you'd better watch yourself."

Jingyao was provoked by his condescending attitude and contemptuous attitude. He wanted to be angry but couldn't, and wanted to laugh but couldn't. He clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides.

As the elevator reached the third basement level and the doors were about to open, he said, "In that case, thank you very much, Mr. Liang."

Liang Qi strode out of the elevator without glancing at him again.

Jingyao slowly stepped out of the elevator and said behind him, "You called them here today? To discuss business?"

Liang Qi paused slightly; Jing Yao stopped beside him and turned his head: "I heard that girl got caught in the rain a couple of days ago, and you didn't even care, not picking her up or dropping her off."

Upon hearing this, Liang Qi's eyes narrowed. He had expected Jing Yao to secretly follow up on the signing with Conti that day, but he hadn't expected that his private interactions with Jiang Nuanyu that day would also be included.

A faint smile played on his lips, but he remained silent.

Seeing his reaction, Jingyao smiled and was quite satisfied with his successful provocation.

However, before he could finish laughing, Liang Qi raised his eyes, turned his head to him, and said unhurriedly, "Jingyao, don't use the same move repeatedly."

After saying that, he gave a silent, cold laugh and walked towards the driver who was waiting in advance.

Behind him, Jingyao's smile gradually faded, and he stood still, his eyes filled with coldness.