-67- Retreat
That same day, Sister Zou sent over Little Sparrow's transfer contract, along with Dorasi's new economic contract. Lu Kai's eyes were etched with a headache. In the past, Sister Zou had reviewed these matters, and after her departure, Zhao Jinghuan had taken charge. But this time, Lu Kai didn't dare to act like a hands-off manager, as usual. It wasn't because the Dorasi contract was important, but because he hadn't yet informed Zhao Jinghuan of Dorasi's departure. He hadn't figured out how to approach the conversation. How should he tell her: That's it. I'm going back to Gao Laozhuang? Lu Kai could make amends for himself. He'd only reluctantly kept his promise to Zhao Jinghuan: he'd promised her a role in the launch of a hit product, and Little Sparrow had clearly become a phenomenal trendy toy over the past year. So, even if he dissolved the company now, it wouldn't be considered a broken promise. But... he didn't want to let Zhao Jinghuan go. However, the studio was now completely devoid of business, and there was no point in continuing. He couldn't just sit there staring at Zhao Jinghuan every day just to keep her company. He racked his brains but couldn't figure out what to do next. But after the contract was signed, Zhao Jinghuan from the studio called to say that a group of workers had arrived at the company, apparently hired by Dorasi, and were going to tear down the studio's front door. Zhao Jinghuan asked him, "Is Dorasi still angry? Do you want me to call Dorasi and ask her?" Lu Kai was shocked. No matter what, he had to tell Zhao Jinghuan about Dorasi's departure. He was afraid that if Zhao Jinghuan contacted Dorasi, the whole thing would be exposed. He quickly stopped Zhao Jinghuan and said, "No, no, no, don't call her. I... I'll talk to her." Zhao Jinghuan said, "Hurry up, our door... these guys are really anxious." "Tear it down, tear it down. It's okay. Wait for me at the studio. I'll be there soon." Lu Kai went downstairs and got in his car, stepping on the accelerator. By the time he arrived at the studio, the workers had already taken down the front door. Zhao Jinghuan sat alone in the doorless studio, looking pitiful. Seeing Lu Kai coming, she gave an awkward smile: "What did Dorasi say?" "Huh?" Zhao Jinghuan asked: "Didn't you say you called Dorasi to ask about the door?" She asked Lu Kai, "Is Dorasi still angry?" Lu Kai hesitated, and Zhao Jinghuan guessed that his conversation with Dorasi was not going well. She tried to cheer herself up: "Oh, by the way, did you see the message I sent you yesterday? Fanqie has taken his resignation certificate. But there is also good news. I...
On the same day, Sister Zou sent over the transfer contract of Little Freckles and the new economic contract of Dorasi.
Lu Kai got a headache as soon as he saw the contract. In the past, these things were given to Sister Zou to review, and after Sister Zou left, Zhao Jinghuan was in charge. But this time, Lu Kai didn't dare to be a hands-off boss as usual. The reason was not because Dorasi's contract was important, but because he had not yet informed Zhao Jinghuan that Dorasi was leaving.
Lu Kai hadn't figured out how to start yet.
How should I tell her: That's it. I'm going back to Gao Village.
Lu Kai could make amends for himself. He had actually done what he promised Zhao Jinghuan, which he had done reluctantly: at that time, he had promised Zhao Jinghuan to let her participate in the launch of a hot product, and in the past year, Freckles had obviously become a phenomenal trendy toy.
Therefore, even if the company was dissolved now, Lu Kai could not be considered to have broken his promise, but he... he was unwilling to let Zhao Jinghuan leave.
However, the studio was now completely out of business, and therefore no longer needed to operate. Lu Kai couldn't just sit there with Zhao Jinghuan and stare at her every day just to keep her. He racked his brains, but couldn't figure out what to do next. But after the contract was signed, Zhao Jinghuan called and said a group of workers had arrived, apparently hired by Dorasi, and were going to tear down the studio's front door.
Zhao Jinghuan asked him, "Is Dorasi still angry? Do you want me to call Dorasi and ask her?"
Lu Kai was shocked. No matter what, he was the one who should tell Zhao Jinghuan about Dorasi's departure. He was afraid that if Zhao Jinghuan contacted Dorasi, the truth would be revealed. He quickly stopped Zhao Jinghuan and said, "No, no, no, don't call her. I... I'll tell her."
Zhao Jinghuan said, "Hurry up, our door... these masters are quite anxious."
"Tear it down, tear it down. It's okay. Wait for me in the studio. I'll be there soon."
Lu Kai went downstairs and got into the car, stepping on the accelerator all the way. When he arrived at the studio, the workers had already removed the door. Zhao Jinghuan was sitting alone in the doorless studio, looking pitiful.
Seeing Lu Kai coming, she gave an awkward smile: "What did Dorasi say?"
"Um?"
Zhao Jinghuan asked, "Didn't you say you called Dorasi to ask about the door?" She asked Lu Kai, "Is Dorasi still angry?"
Lu Zhi hesitated, and Zhao Jinghuan guessed that his conversation with Dorasi was not going well. She tried to cheer herself up:
"Oh, by the way, did you see the message I sent you yesterday? Fanqie has already taken his resignation certificate. But there is good news. I've been in contact with some online live broadcast studios these days, and many are still willing to continue working with us. I compiled a list of names, and if we plan to continue with the new series of Freckles, we can actually start online. I thought we could meet with Dorasi soon to discuss future work..."
She stood up to get the list of live broadcast rooms she had printed out, but Lu Kai suddenly said, "Doraxi is going to TD Club."
Zhao Jinghuan was stunned.
Lu Kai took a deep breath. "The public outcry we're experiencing right now isn't about whether to start the fight online or offline. TD Studio has offered very good conditions. For Dorasi, leaving our studio is actually the right decision."
Zhao Jinghuan's mind was a little confused: "If it's just 'going', can we still persuade him to stay?"
Lu Kai gritted his teeth and had to speak more clearly: "I have already signed the contract."
The expression on Zhao Jinghuan's face gradually solidified: "Oh, you just came here to inform me."
Lu Kai quickly explained that it was decided yesterday and the contract was signed this morning: "I wanted to tell you as soon as possible."
Zhao Jinghuan said, "Oh!" She frowned, as if thinking about what was about to happen, but still confirmed with Lu Kai: "Tomato and Dorasi are gone, so the next work of the studio..."
Lu Kai hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said, "Next, we'll...work hard to find a new direction for work! Although there may not be much work to do in the near future, don't worry, I'll find a new direction soon. After all, I have to keep paying you, and I can't just keep dragging it out and letting you take the money for nothing. Capitalists are very cunning!"
Zhao Jinghuan looked at him quietly, as if she could see his guilty conscience and his insincerity. She asked him, "Are there any other options?"
Lu Kai was stunned for a moment: "What other options..." He paused for a long moment before saying: "I also know some people in big studios. If you want... if you want to work somewhere else, I can help you with internal referrals."
He stared at Zhao Jinghuan, expecting her to reject him, expecting her to say that she was willing to wait a little longer, until Lu Kai's inspiration burst out and find a new direction for the studio, but Zhao Jinghuan said:
"Will there be other companies that want me?"
"Of course." Lu Kai said, "You have been following Little Freckles' work throughout, and you have been the only one responsible for the studio's recent work. If... I mean, if you want to leave, many studios will want you." What he said was clearly an approval of Zhao Jinghuan, but a trace of sadness flashed in Zhao Jinghuan's eyes.
She seemed to have lost all her strength, and her straight shoulders slumped down. She turned her head and glanced at the familiar studio, then took a deep breath and said to Lu Kai:
"Then this one will do."
…………
At least one thing, Lu Kai did not lie.
After Zhao Jinghuan decided to leave Waikiki, she soon received several offers. The big company that Lu Kai recommended wanted her, and several trendy toy studios that she met with on her own also wanted her to join.
Just a year ago, Zhao Jinghuan thought she might have to deliver takeout for the rest of her life. She never imagined that one day, it would be so easy to find a job.
The feeling of getting so many offers really made her feel addicted, but people seem to be very mean animals. Zhao Jinghuan received many very good offers, but she didn't want to go to any of them.
In response, Ji Anya commented, "If you're a bitch, just be a bitch. Don't drag all of humanity into this. Humanity can't bear the blame." After scolding her, Ji Anya asked her why she didn't want to go. Zhao Jinghuan thought for a long time before saying she had a feeling.
"As long as I don't apply for a new job, this story will not end."
Ji Anya nodded: "This is typical Alzheimer's syndrome."
Zhao Jinghuan said, "Are you talking about Stockholm syndrome?"
Ji Anya shook her head: "No, you weren't kidnapped. You just have pure Alzheimer's disease."
At the end of the month, Zhao Jinghuan returned to Waikiki and retrieved all the luggage she had left in the inner room. She had previously planned to move out all at once after settling down a job and finding a new house, but now she felt that living with Ji Anya would be a good idea; at least she wouldn't be lonely.
Ji Anya's dorm wasn't big enough to accommodate Zhao Jinghuan's junk, so she rented a locker outside. Before moving, Zhao Jinghuan called Lu Kai, but no one answered. Fortunately, Lu Kai had given Zhao Jinghuan the code as soon as the studio door was changed, even though his original intention was for Zhao Jinghuan to move back into the studio, not the other way around.
Lu Kai set the password for the new door to the date "Literary Spirit" was released. As Zhao Jinghuan typed it in, she couldn't help but feel like it was some kind of epitaph. There wasn't much left in the inner room; a suitcase and a backpack were all she needed. She took them away on her electric scooter. When she tried to pack them into the rented luggage locker, she found too much stuff and couldn't close the door no matter what. She ended up squatting on the floor, unpacking the boxes.
After choosing for a while, she took out the cycling clothes she wore when she was a rider, and then closed the packed luggage cabinet.
That night, Ji Anya was shocked to see Zhao Jinghuan coming back with a rider's uniform.
"What's going on? Are you trying to tell me that after a few thoughts, you've decided that being a rider is more suitable for you? I know you were badly injured by Waikiki. But isn't going back to being a rider a bit too much?"
Zhao Jinhuan said embarrassedly, "Don't worry, I still have the ability to distinguish right from wrong."
"What's better than being a rider? Going back to being a rider is the real Alzheimer's disease."
Zhao Jinghuan said this, but after washing up and lying in bed, she unconsciously opened the "Crowdsourcing Assistant" on her phone. With the app open, Zhao Jinghuan glanced guiltily at Ji Anya, who was lying across from her in the bed, as if she was afraid the yellow light cast by the phone on her face would betray her.
Ji Anya, who was currently binge-watching a TV series, didn't look over. Zhao Jinghuan felt a sense of relief. After a year without using the app, all his personal information was still there, but the interface looked unfamiliar. Zhao Jinghuan clicked around randomly, and suddenly a gentle system notification chime rang out from his phone.
“Start taking orders.”
Ji Anya, who was lying on the bed opposite her, put down her phone and turned to look at her.
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