I will definitely report in advance next time.

Not far away, Cui Yu was talking to someone else, but his eyes never left Meng Yihe. He saw the Omega practically clinging to Meng Yihe, and he saw Meng Yihe's somewhat impatient yet resigned expression. A surge of extreme displeasure instantly welled up in Cui Yu's heart.

It was a strong possessiveness and territoriality that belonged to Enigma.

His smile faded, and his eyes became deep and dangerous. Without much thought, he said "Excuse me" to the people he was talking to, and then strode towards Meng Yihe.

Just as Li Qingchen was smiling and about to take things a step further and invite Meng Yihe to discuss the project privately another time, an arm with undeniable strength wrapped around Meng Yihe's shoulder.

Meng Yihe's body stiffened abruptly as the familiar scent of cedar instantly enveloped him, bringing a subtle sense of oppression. He turned his head in surprise and saw that Cui Yu had appeared beside him at some point.

The smile on Cui Yu's face was somewhat different from what he usually saw. Cui Yu's gaze swept over Li Qingchen and her father opposite him.

"Mr. Li, Ms. Li." Cui Yu's voice still sounded gentle.

"What are you chatting about so happily? Excuse me, I need to borrow my 'partner' for a while. I have some very important guests to meet with him."

He emphasized the word "partner" and didn't loosen his grip on Meng Yihe's shoulder; instead, he tightened it even more.

Meng Yihe then looked at President Li and Li Qingchen, naturally failing to notice the emotions revealed in Cui Yu's eyes.

Li Qingchen's smile faltered. Looking at Cui Yu's intensely intimidating gaze and the hand around Meng Yihe's shoulder, she seemed to understand something, but she remained silent.

Her father quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Oh, okay, you all go about your business!"

Only Li Qingchen understood it.

Cui Yu only let go of her hand when they reached a relatively quiet terrace. His aggressive expression vanished instantly, replaced by his usual slightly teasing demeanor.

Meng Yihe took a step back abruptly, her face filled with shock and confusion. To avoid drawing attention, she lowered her voice and said, "Cui Yu! What were you doing just now? That was so rude."

Cui Yu shrugged, his tone relaxed: "Just trying to get you out of that situation, Director Meng."

"Didn't you realize that Miss Li's real intentions weren't what they seemed? If you stay any longer, I'm afraid you'll have to go and discuss the project details with President Li alone tomorrow." He deliberately distorted Li Qingchen's intentions, attributing it entirely to business calculations, namely, that President Li intended to use a "honey trap" to secure project cooperation.

He took out his phone and casually swiped the screen.

"Besides, I wasn't lying. There are indeed a few important potential partners over there that need to be introduced, and it wouldn't be appropriate for you not to be there."

Cui Yu shook his phone.

"In this situation, we 'Starry Twins' must stand together to maximize our interests, right?" He used the nickname given to them by outsiders to explain the intimate arm-in-arm gesture just now as a strategic "shared image display."

Meng Yihe was taken aback by his series of seemingly reasonable explanations, and most of her anger dissipated.

“Then you don’t need to…” He subconsciously touched the shoulder that had just been put on his arm, where a slight, uncomfortable warmth and force seemed to linger.

"Is it really necessary to be so 'realistic'?" Cui Yu chimed in, raising an eyebrow at him. "If it doesn't look convincing, how can you fool those seasoned veterans? Or perhaps..." He deliberately dragged out his words, looking Meng Yihe up and down.

"Director Meng is actually quite bothered by this?"

He casually tossed the question back to Meng Yihe, suggesting that if Meng Yihe minded, it was his own ulterior motives.

Meng Yihe was speechless, taken aback by his words. Of course, he couldn't admit that he had felt a momentary loss of balance in his heartbeat and a strange unease, so he could only force himself to remain calm and put on a cold face: "Nonsense! Next time, just say so in advance to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

"Okay, I'll definitely report in advance next time." Cui Yu nodded readily, but a smug smile flashed in his eyes. He knew that Meng Yihe had been fooled for the time being.

"Let's go, Director Meng." He put away his phone and turned around first.

"The real battle is yet to come. Don't forget, 'North Star Light' needs more allies." Cui Yu steered the conversation back to work, perfectly concealing the possessiveness surging within him.

As the music and music of the banquet gradually subsided, the guests began to depart one after another.

Cui Yu and Meng Yihe were preparing to leave the venue together, the subtle tension on the terrace seemingly dissipated by the impending end of their social duties. However, just as they reached the door, both Cui Yu and Meng Yihe's phones vibrated urgently at almost the same time.

The screens were filled with emergency calls from their respective assistants.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the same wariness in each other's eyes—an urgent call at this hour could not be a trivial matter.

Cui Yu answered the phone first: "Zhao Lei, what's up?"

Almost simultaneously, Meng Yihe also pressed the answer button: "Lin Xueyue?"

On the other end of the phone, Zhao Lei and Lin Xueyue's anxious voices came through, but their content was surprisingly consistent: "Director Cui/Director Meng, something bad has happened! We just received news that 'Dingsheng Capital' has suddenly released information that they have also expressed strong interest in that piece of land in the North District. It is said that their person in charge will visit the relevant leaders first thing tomorrow morning! Several analytical articles predicting the decline of the new district's development have appeared online almost simultaneously. Although they did not directly name 'Beichen Zhiguang,' the implications are very clear! We suspect that this is an organized propaganda campaign!"

"Dingsheng Capital" is a competitor in the industry known for its aggressive methods and abundant funds.

Their intervention undoubtedly complicated the situation instantly, and the simultaneous media attacks further confirmed that this was a well-prepared commercial attack.

All those inexplicable emotions about the dinner party and the terrace were completely cleared away at this moment.

Cui Yu and Meng Yihe's expressions darkened almost instantly.

"Understood." Cui Yu's voice was so calm that it didn't betray a trace of emotion. "Notify Wu Hao and Shen Xinyi to gather in the online conference room in thirty minutes."

"Lin Xueyue, contact the head of the public relations department and immediately assess public opinion. I need to see a draft response plan within an hour." Meng Yihe's order was equally concise and swift.

After hanging up the phone, the two looked at each other again. The subtle distance between them had vanished without a trace, replaced by a solemn tacit understanding in the face of a common enemy.

"It seems someone doesn't want us to have a peaceful night." Cui Yu smirked, but there was no smile in his eyes, only a cold fighting spirit.

"Perfect timing, I'm not sleepy either," Meng Yihe said coldly, already taking out her phone to check the negative articles.

"Back to the company?" Cui Yu asked.

"Otherwise what?" Meng Yihe retorted, her steps already turning towards the parking lot.

In the darkness, the car sped towards the Star Tower.

Inside the car, both men were constantly directing their respective teams via phone and text message, exchanging fragmented information they had just acquired. The dinner they had just attended seemed like a distant dream. At this moment, they had transformed back into the "Starry Twins," fighting for a common goal.

Despite it being late at night, the team members who received the emergency notification were all in place quickly, and the online meeting system had also connected with other relevant personnel who were at home.

The atmosphere in the war room instantly became lively.

Cui Yu first looked at Zhao Lei: "Has the reliability of the source been confirmed? What stage has 'Dingsheng' reached? Is it a smokescreen or are they serious?" He needed the most accurate intelligence to assess the threat level of his opponent.

“Shen Xinyi,” he turned to the analyst. “Based on the existing information, produce a risk assessment and countermeasure plan as quickly as possible after ‘Dingsheng’s’ intervention, including but not limited to public opinion, funding, and policy aspects.”

He then ordered Wu Hao: "Immediately recalculate our maximum acceptable price and optimal payment plan. At the same time, contact our government relations contact in the North District project team to find out the latest developments. Which level has 'Dingsheng' contacted? We need to know their leverage."

His strategy was clear: solidify the internal foundation while gathering intelligence on the external enemy.

Meng Yihe stared coldly at the negative articles compiled by Lin Xueyue: "Find the connections and core arguments behind these articles. Are they simply badmouthing the new district, or are they precisely targeting the weaknesses of our project? Have you found any traces of online trolls?"

It is necessary to know whether the other party is targeting you maliciously.

"Gao Yuan, immediately prepare a set of data visualization charts and positive materials to highlight the development potential of the North District and the core competitiveness of our 'Beichen Light' project. It needs to be intuitive and persuasive! Lin Xueyue, liaise with the public relations department and have them prepare two statements. One is for the industry and the media, emphasizing our confidence and strength and refuting false statements; the other is for internal employees and partners, to stabilize morale and unify our external messaging."

His strategy was to confront the issue head-on with facts and data while simultaneously stabilizing the rear.

The team members also demonstrated a high degree of teamwork. Around 3 a.m., the initial response plan was basically finalized, all instructions had been issued, and the team entered a short period of standby and execution.

Cui Yu and Meng Yihe were finally able to catch their breath and lean back in their chairs.

The only sound in the office was the soft hum of the computer fans.

Cui Yu rubbed his temples and handed Meng Yihe a freshly brewed cup of strong coffee: "It seems there are more people eyeing the 'Northern Star Light' prize than we thought."

Meng Yihe took the coffee, their fingertips inevitably touching briefly. Both of them paused for a moment before quickly and naturally separating. He took a sip, the bitter taste invigorating him.

“As expected.” He put down his cup. “Perfect, so I won’t get too bored.”

His competitive spirit was reignited, and the previous personal emotional turmoil seemed insignificant in the face of strong external pressure and a clear goal.

Although the surprise attack from "Dingsheng Capital" was temporarily repelled, alarm bells had already rung. Cui Yu and Meng Yihe both realized that the original departmental collaboration model was inefficient in the face of stronger opponents and more complex projects. With almost no discussion, the two began to push for team integration with great tacit understanding.

Within a week, an independent joint command center was officially established under the "North Star Light" project, and the core members of the operations and strategy departments were brought together in the same open office area.

The physical barrier was broken down.

Cui Yu and Meng Yihe's offices were also converted into adjacent glass partitions to facilitate communication at any time.

Soon, another important opportunity arose.

The annual Asia-Pacific High-End Commercial Real Estate Development Summit will be held in Haicheng, providing an excellent platform to promote "Beichen Light" and attract top international partners and investors. Cui Yu and Meng Yihe, as key figures in the project, are required to attend together.

Inside the first-class cabin on the flight to Haicheng.

As soon as Meng Yihe boarded the plane, she took out her documents and started reading, trying to turn the entire journey into working time.

Cui Yu seemed more relaxed. He asked for a glass of water, looked at Meng Yihe who was focused beside him, and suddenly said, "Director Meng, we're going to a meeting, not to fight a war. No one will dock your pay if you relax a little during this short time on the plane."

Meng Yihe didn't even look up: "Familiarizing yourself with the speaker's background information beforehand will be beneficial for future contact."

Cui Yu chuckled softly, then suddenly reached out and gently snatched the document from his hand.

Meng Yihe looked up in astonishment and stared at him.

Cui Yu waved the file around: "It's break time now. As your partner, I'm asking you to close your eyes and go to sleep."

Meng Yihe frowned immediately and reached out to snatch the document back: "Cui Yu! Don't give me that! A partner has no right to interfere with how I arrange flight time."

Cui Yu easily raised her arm, avoiding his hand, her smile unchanged, even carrying a hint of helplessness as if coaxing a child.

"Yes, yes, I'm not qualified. Then, as the other member of the 'Starry Twins,' may I ask you? Director Meng, you wouldn't want us both to show up at the event with dark circles under our eyes, would you? That would really damage the image of 'Starry'."

He deliberately emphasized the words "Starry Twins" with a hint of mockery, yet cleverly linked himself with the other party, elevating "rest" to the level of maintaining the company's image.

The hand that was about to snatch the document froze in mid-air.

Meng Yihe glared at Cui Yu for a few seconds, seemingly trying to find a sharper word to refute him, but in the end she just withdrew her hand in annoyance and leaned back heavily in her chair.

Meng Yihe said coldly, "That's sophistry."

After saying that, as if to express his greatest dissatisfaction and protest, he suddenly closed his eyes, turned his head sharply to the window, and faced Cui Yu with the back of his head, displaying a resolute attitude of "I can't be bothered with you".

Cui Yu put the documents away with satisfaction and didn't bother him any longer.

After stopping looking at work-related documents, Meng Yihe's tense nerves gradually relaxed. What was originally just a pouty attempt to close her eyes and rest actually turned into a deep sleep as her consciousness gradually blurred under the rhythmic noise and dim light.

His breathing became even and long, the original intensity of the cherry brandy gone.

The Asia-Pacific Commercial Real Estate Summit in Haicheng was a grand event, attracting a gathering of elites. At the thematic forum, Meng Yihe, representing Xinghuan Group, delivered a speech on "Reshaping Emotional Connections in Future Urban Complexes." Her clear logic, sharp insights, and impactful visual design created by Gao Yuan earned her a standing ovation.

During the subsequent group discussion, Cui Yu fully utilized his expertise in managing the atmosphere. In conversations with several industry leaders, he skillfully incorporated the innovative operating model and investment value of "Beichen Light," attracting the interest of many investors.

During the tea break, they ran into a delegation from "Dingsheng Capital." The delegation leader was a shrewd and capable female Beta Director, Ji Nan.

"President Cui, President Meng, it's an honor to meet you both. Your presentations just now were truly excellent."

Although the other party smiled and extended their hand, their tone carried a subtle but sharp edge.

"It seems that Xinghuan is determined to win over the North District. However, with such a large market, it's questionable whether concepts and innovations alone can satisfy its appetite."

Cui Yu smiled and shook hands with her, his grip firm but not too tight.

"Mr. Ji, you flatter me. As for whether it can satisfy our appetites, it depends on the chef's skills and the quality of the ingredients. It's not enough to just talk about it. 'Beichen Zhiguang' may not have much else, but it has plenty of ingredients and a good chef."

He deftly deflected the criticism, both responding to the doubts and subtly implying that the other party might just be "all talk and no action."

Meng Yihe nodded slightly: "If President Ji is interested, you are welcome to refer to our detailed technical white paper and draft financial model later. Data is more convincing than speculation."

The brief conversation was fraught with tension and tension.

Both sides are well aware that future competition will inevitably become more intense.