Your position is my position.
Qi Xu still didn't react, focusing only on cracking sunflower seeds, his eyes fixed on what was in front of him, but the speed at which he cracked the sunflower seeds was getting faster and faster.
A moment later, the melon seeds in her palm were gone. The two had long since made up, and there was nothing more to see.
Everyone gathered around the easel. Hao Nan had already rolled up the paintings that had been given to each person and carefully secured them with ropes. He had also tidied up Qi Xu's painting tools.
He looked up and his eyes met hers, then he quickly looked away.
After receiving the scroll, everyone bid farewell to the two men and dispersed.
"Hao Nan, aren't you going back to school?" Xu Sheng asked.
"Wait a little longer, you should go back first." Hao Nan said, helping Qi Xu pick up her art supplies, clearly intending to take them back to her home.
Qi Xu also picked up some painting supplies and walked alongside him, glancing at him every now and then. The words that were on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back each time, leaving her with a hesitant look.
They walked in silence, with only the soft sound of footsteps on the road.
After delivering the art supplies to her house, Hao Nan turned to leave when Qi Xu suddenly called out to him, "Hao Nan, you shouldn't waste your time on me. I don't have any feelings for you."
Hao Nan was stunned. He thought she called him back to remind him to be careful on the road, but he didn't expect her to push him away.
He stood at the door, silently watching her, his face frighteningly cold, a stark contrast to his usual gentle demeanor.
Qi Xu unconsciously clenched her hands behind the door and whispered, "Let's leave it at that."
She was about to close the door when Hao Nan blocked it, preventing it from closing properly.
"Is there anything else you want to say?" Qi Xu looked up at him, her tone calm and without a trace of emotion.
“I haven’t wasted any time,” Hao Nan said with a serious look in his eyes and a low voice, clearly trying to control his emotions. “I’m looking for my future path. You’re a good painter, so it’s only natural that I want to learn from you.”
She met his incredibly serious gaze and found herself thinking that he was right; it really wasn't a waste of time. It was reasonable, even a little too reasonable.
"Okay, be careful on the road, good night." After saying that, Qi Xu immediately closed the door and only moved away from the door after a long while.
Hao Nan took a slow step back from behind the door, facing the person behind it, before finally turning and leaving.
That night, Li Mo sent a message to Qi Xu, asking her to come back to the company the next day. After replying briefly, she fell into a deep sleep.
The next day when I arrived at the company, everything seemed the same as usual, but there were many more people coming and going than before, making it unusually lively.
Someone spotted Qi Xu at a glance and immediately walked over, a smile that couldn't be hidden on their face: "Sister Qi Xu, you really are at Mingcheng Company!"
"Who are you?" Qi Xu asked, his face full of confusion.
"I'm your fan! I especially love your art style!" The fan's voice trembled with excitement.
As soon as she finished speaking, more fans surged forward, surrounding Qi Xu in the middle, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
The surrounding noise was deafening, making her dizzy and unable to hear what people were saying.
In a daze, she seemed to hear someone saying that Mingcheng Company was suppressing talent, saying that such an outstanding person was forced to perform on the streets, which was probably what they meant.
Just then, Hao Nan walked into the company and saw the chaotic scene. He quickly squeezed in and pulled Qi Xu out of the crowd.
He shielded her behind him, his voice clearly filled with anger: "What are you doing! Get out!"
Meng Jia quickly brought over several security personnel from outside to help disperse the crowd.
She walked over to Qi Xu and carefully examined her. Only after confirming that she was not injured did she breathe a sigh of relief. If Qi Xu had been injured, wouldn't she have lost a renowned teacher who could have taught her something?
However, some fans were still indignant on behalf of Qi Xu, shouting at the company: "Sister Qi Xu, don't worry, we will definitely help you get justice!"
The fans who were evacuated outside became even more agitated, and even began to openly accuse the company: "Trash company! You don't deserve it at all!" A group of people shouted in unison, their voices so loud that the entire floor could hear them.
Li Mo came downstairs with her brows furrowed tightly. She glanced at Qi Xu, Hao Nan, and Meng Jia, and finally her gaze settled on Qi Xu, her expression extremely grave.
"Qi Xu, come with me." This time, her tone lacked its usual politeness and carried an undeniable air of authority.
All three noticed her change; Qi Xu's influence had already affected the company's reputation, and it seemed she would inevitably be punished.
Hao Nan looked at Qi Xu with concern, worried that she might be mistreated. Even though he knew she would never let herself be wronged, he couldn't suppress his worry.
"Seven Xu." His voice was neither loud nor soft, but full of concern.
Qi Xu paused, turned around and gave him a big smile, indicating that he could rest assured.
After Qi Xu was taken away by Li Mo, Hao Nan couldn't sit still in the studio at all. He couldn't concentrate on his work and could only pace back and forth.
Meng Jia, on the other hand, remained calm and focused on the task at hand.
Upon entering the office, the director was sitting at the head of the table, his gaze fixed intently on the documents.
“Director,” Li Mo said respectfully.
"How should we handle this?" The director didn't even look up, throwing the question directly at her with a very authoritative tone.
"If you have any thoughts, please feel free to speak them." Li Mo remained respectful.
“You brought these people with you, so handle it yourselves. The company headquarters has already issued a notice that this matter has seriously damaged the company's reputation, and you need to provide a reasonable explanation.”
"Then I will punish him as you wish." After saying that, Li Mo turned and left the office, leaving Qi Xu alone inside.
The director continued working without even glancing at Qi Xu, who stood there for a long time.
After what seemed like an eternity, the director finally finished his work and looked up at Qi Xu: "Do you know where you went wrong?"
"I did nothing wrong." Qi Xu's attitude was firm, looking directly into the director's eyes without backing down in the slightest.
"I only gave you the opportunity to join the company because you're young and capable, but look at what you've done!" The director lost his temper and threw the documents on the table onto the floor.
Qi Xu bent down, calmly picked up the document, and placed it back on the table, his voice still steady: "If the company can't give it to me, why can't I fight for it myself?"
"You're just trying to get a chance by yourself, which is just tarnishing the reputation of the company that adopted you?"
"Smear campaign? I did nothing, so how can you say I'm smearing me?"
"Seven Xu, you're really new to society, like a newborn calf that's not afraid of tigers!"
The director opened the company's social media account, and the screen was full of fans' complaints and negative reviews: "Isn't this a disgrace to the company?"
"If the company is upright and honest, how can a few baseless rumors shake its position?" Qi Xu had a confident smile on his face, his aura even surpassing that of the director. He didn't seem afraid at all, and he didn't give the impression of being a newcomer to the workforce, but rather a veteran.
At this moment, she looked exactly like a leader who had crawled out of a pack of wild beasts in the wilderness, covered in wounds, exuding a kingly aura.
It was as if anyone who tried to disrupt her plans was her enemy, regardless of who they were.
Qi Xu glanced at the solution written on the director's desk and a smile appeared on his lips.
There are two options: one is to let her stay with the company, but she must cancel her personal account; the other is to resign directly.
Without saying a word, she picked up the resignation document next to her and decisively signed her name on the last page.
"Since you can't make up your mind, I'll help you choose, so the company won't be in a difficult position."
After saying that, she walked straight out of the office, a relaxed smile on her face, down the corridor. She was finally free from the company's oppression and completely liberated.
The director in the office was still reeling from the shock. It wasn't until his phone rang that he snapped out of his daze and answered the call.
"Sis, is something the matter?"
"How is the girl?" a woman's voice came from the other end of the phone.
“She’s gone beyond the company’s purview.” The director paused, then added, “She’s the wildest, most adventurous girl I’ve ever met.”
“She has escaped our control. No matter how popular she is on the internet or how crazy her fans are, no company will dare to hire her.”
"Okay, sis."
The two ended the call.
After hanging up the phone, Ci Yan smiled with satisfaction: "Qi Xu, Qi Xu, your biggest mistake was having these fans. I'm going to win this battle."
On the other side, Hao Nan had been waiting for Qi Xu at the studio entrance. When he saw the bright smile on her face when she came out, he knew the result: "What are you planning to do next?"
As Qi Xu packed his things, he retorted, "You should be asking yourself, not me."
“Of course I’ll follow those who are to my advantage,” Hao Nan looked at her, his eyes full of affection and a slight smile on his lips. “It’s only natural for a disciple to follow his master, to roam the world and conquer all.”
Qi Xu couldn't help but laugh, turning around to look at him: "Following me to conquer the world comes at a high price. Have you thought it through?"
“There’s nothing to think about,” Hao Nan said with unwavering determination, without the slightest hesitation. “If we’re going to play chess, let’s play a big game; if we’re going to compete, let’s compete for first place. What’s the point of competing if it’s not for first place and status?”
"Then what are you standing there for? Pack your things!" Qi Xu reminded him with a smile.
The two immediately began packing their belongings and, amidst the complex gazes of the crowd, walked confidently out of Mingcheng Company. They smiled at each other and stepped side by side into a wider world.
Meng Jia had no idea that the two had resigned. When she returned to the studio after finishing her business, Qi Xu and Hao Nan's desks were already clean and tidy.
She grabbed Hongming, who had a good working relationship with Qi Xu, and asked anxiously, "Where did Qi Xu go?"
Hong Ming sighed softly, "She was fired from the company, and Hao Nan left with her."
"Why!" Meng Jia's face was full of disbelief, but even more so, it was filled with dissatisfaction with the company.
I cursed the company in my mind: What a garbage company! They only know how to exploit their employees and don't know how to cherish talent!
Later, Meng Jia couldn't swallow her anger any longer and completely lost trust in the company. In the end, she submitted her resignation and left Mingcheng Company.
She was filled with regret, wondering why she hadn't thought to ask for Qi Xu's WeChat back then. Now that he was gone, there was no chance to contact him again.
After leaving the company, the first thing Qi Xu did was to cancel and delete all accounts related to Mingcheng Company, severing all related interpersonal relationships.
Let bygones be bygones, disappear from her world forever. Now, she must embrace her future.
After resigning, she didn't stay idle. She went to one company after another for interviews, looking for opportunities everywhere.
After all, both she and Ciyan ultimately aim to compete in the field of comic artists, and this fundamental competition is unavoidable.
Strangely, these companies seemed to be afraid of her, and none of them were willing to hire her.
Hao Nan stayed in the school dormitory and, when he wasn't in class, he always helped Qi Xu find other ways out.
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