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After the proofs were approved, Boss Chen's factory went into full production. Zhao Jinghuan had already contacted suppliers willing to work with them. While waiting for "One Million Ways" to ship, the studio suddenly had some free time. Opinions differed on how to make the most of this time. Zhao Jinghuan suggested using this time to provide staff training for Ji Anya and "New Tomato." Lu Kai suggested creating multiple accounts and discussing how to manage public opinion after the launch of "One Million Ways." New Tomato wanted to use this time to visit the factory. Ji Anya, on the other hand, wanted to play mahjong. So they arranged these four activities in order of increasing difficulty. On Thursday, the three of them played mahjong with Ji Anya all afternoon, each losing an average of 200 yuan. Lu Kai was furious all night, and the next day, Zhao Jinghuan took New Tomato and Ji Anya to the factory, but he skipped it. Instead, he downloaded a mahjong app and honed his skills alone in the studio. Back at the factory, the new Tomato was just like Zhao Jinghuan, who had first arrived a year prior. Everything she saw was curious and delightful. Ji Anya was similarly captivated by the 600 yuan she'd won the previous afternoon, and she was equally delighted. Zhao Jinghuan was also in a good mood. Bringing two new people along had finally given her a sense of empowerment, a sense of the transformation, and a rare feeling that the hardships and pain she'd endured along the way hadn't been in vain. However, her good mood didn't last long. Passing by the proofing workshop, she took Tomato and Ji Anya to see a familiar craftsman. They saw the sample he was working on—it turned out to be Wanfeng's last work. Zhao Jinghuan's head buzzed, and she left Tomato and Ji Anya behind to call Boss Chen. The signal in the workshop was poor, and Boss Chen couldn't hear her, so he came out of his upstairs office and came down to the factory to meet her. Zhao Jinghuan's mind was clouded with anger. Xinren Fanqie and Ji Anya came over to ask her what was wrong, but she couldn't explain it, simply telling them to wait outside. When Boss Chen arrived, she dragged him over to the master craftsman, pointed at the blueprint taped to the table, and angrily demanded to know where he'd gotten it. "Mother Wanfeng clearly signed this blueprint to Hu Mingyuan!" Boss Chen was baffled. "Yes, I did it for Hu Mingyuan!" Only then did Zhao Jinghuan realize how foolish she had been. Perhaps because Boss Chen was such a righteous man and treated them so well, Zhao Jinghuan...
After the proof was approved, Boss Chen's factory started production at full capacity.
Zhao Jinghuan had already contacted suppliers willing to work with them. While waiting for "A Million Ways" to ship, the studio suddenly had some free time. Everyone expressed different opinions on how to make the most of this time. Zhao Jinghuan suggested using this time to provide staff training for Ji Anya and "New Tomato." Lu Kai suggested that everyone register multiple accounts and discuss how to maintain public opinion after "A Million Ways" launched. New Tomato wanted to use this time to visit the factory.
And Ji Anya wants to play mahjong.
So they arranged the four activities in order of ease. On Thursday, the three of them played mahjong with Ji Anya all afternoon, each losing an average of 200 yuan. Lu Kai was furious all night, and the next day, Zhao Jinghuan took the new Tomato and Ji Anya to the factory, but he didn't go. Instead, he downloaded a mahjong app and honed his skills alone in the studio.
As for the factory, the new Tomato was just like Zhao Jinghuan when she first arrived a year ago—everything was curious and exciting. Ji Anya was similar: everything she saw reminded her of the 600 yuan she won yesterday afternoon, and she was equally delighted.
Zhao Jinghuan was in a good mood. Bringing two new people here finally gave her the feeling of becoming stronger and having a real identity change. She also felt that all the hardships and pains she had experienced along the way were not all in vain.
However, her good mood did not last long. When she passed by the proofing workshop, she took Tomato and Ji Anya to look for a familiar master, but she saw that the sample he was making was actually the last work left by Wanfeng.
Zhao Jinghuan's head buzzed, and she left Tomato and Ji Anya and turned to call Boss Chen. The signal in the workshop was not good, and Boss Chen could not hear what she was saying, so he came out of the office upstairs and went down to the factory to see her.
Zhao Jinghuan was so angry that her mind was in a mess. When Xinren Fanqie and Ji Anya came to ask her what was wrong, she couldn't explain it clearly, and just told them to wait outside. When Boss Chen came over, she pulled him over to the master, pointed at the design stuck on the table, and angrily asked Boss Chen where he got it from.
"Mother Wanfeng has clearly signed this design to Hu Mingyuan!"
Boss Chen was puzzled: "Yes, I made it for Hu Mingyuan!"
Zhao Jinghuan then realized that he was stupid. Perhaps because Boss Chen was a righteous man and treated them very well, Zhao Jinghuan always subconsciously regarded him as a member of his own studio, forgetting that Hu Mingyuan and Boss Chen's cooperation even predated Waikiki.
Hu Mingyuan had his Mr. Beard produced by Boss Chen's factory. If he wanted to implement Wanfeng's design, it would be reasonable for him to continue to hand it over to Boss Chen.
When Wanfeng was still alive, Lu Kai had once approached Boss Chen with this design, and the two had even signed a preliminary contract. So Boss Chen actually understood the significance of this design to Lu Kai. Although it was understandable that Boss Chen took on this job since Hu Mingyuan had already purchased the copyright to Wanfeng's posthumous work, he was still a little embarrassed. He explained to Zhao Jinghuan, "Hu Mingyuan and I haven't signed a formal contract yet. He just asked me to make a sample to see the effect, so I didn't tell you in advance."
Zhao Jinghuan had always assumed that Hu Mingyuan, fearing Lu Kai would reveal the truth about their conflict that day, would keep Wanfeng's posthumous work hidden. She hadn't expected him to actually release it. She didn't know what to say, so she simply told Boss Chen that if Hu Mingyuan truly wanted to start mass-producing custom orders, he must notify her in advance. Then she said goodbye.
At this point, they had only toured half of the factory, but Zhao Jinghuan couldn't stay any longer. After meeting up with Ji Anya and the new Tomato who were waiting outside, he took the two of them back to the studio.
She had been planning to tell Lu Kai the news right away, but she changed her mind on the way back. Zhao Jinghuan really couldn't predict Lu Kai's reaction to the news. "A Million Ways" had already begun production at the factory, and she didn't want any complications to arise at such a critical moment.
Lu Kai, who was learning mahjong, saw the others come back early and was curious, so he asked them what happened. Ji Anya and Fanqie were equally confused. They turned to Zhao Jinghuan and said, "Explain now. You didn't tell me anything when we asked you on the way."
Zhao Jinghuan hesitated for a moment, then suddenly came up with an idea. He opened the cabinet and took out the mahjong:
"What's there to see in a factory? Just take a look and get back to business. I have to win back the few hundred dollars I lost yesterday."
Lu Kai was bewildered, and so was the new Tomato. Only Ji Anya perked up after hearing this, loosened up her aching joints, and said with a grin, "You bunch of worthless bastards, you dare to seek death? Look at me warming up the wine... warming up the wine, all of you!"
Lu Kai and the new Tomato were dragged to the card table by Ji Anyaya without knowing what was going on. At the end of the night, including the absent-minded Zhao Jinghuan, the three of them had each lost several hundred yuan.
This fully proves that Lu Kai's practice early in the morning was meaningless.
Ji Anya took the money and left work contentedly. The new Tomato gave Lu Kai a look and then pointed at his cell phone.
Only then did Lu Kai realize that the new Tomato had sent him a message, asking him to go to the alley behind the express cabinet in Building 3 after get off work, turn left, and count from east to west to find him at the third manhole cover.
"Boss, come on your own. I have something to tell you."
Although Zhao Jinghuan had moved back to the studio, after the new Tomato joined the company, in order to avoid suspicion, Lu Kai went back to his own home every night, so he didn't feel any pressure to meet the new Tomato alone.
After get off work, Lu Kai left Haiya Lane as usual. However, after leaving the alley, he did not take the bus. Instead, he took a long detour and returned to Haiya Lane from another fork in the east. Then, following the instructions given by the new Tomato, he came to the alley behind the express cabinet in Building 3 and turned left.
As for the description of "on the third manhole cover from east to west", it is really a bit redundant. The alley is so shallow, and Lu Kai has seen the new tomato before. What is the meaning of "on the manhole cover" that is worth writing specifically? It is only worth marking it if you are hiding under the manhole cover.
In the alley, the new Tomato really followed his own description strictly and stood on the third manhole cover. Lu Kai was afraid that he would fall, so he reached out and pulled him over, asking him what he wanted to say.
The new Tomato took a deep breath and said, "Of course I want to talk about what happened this afternoon. Did you notice that Sister Jing Huan was a little strange today?"
Lu Kai nodded and said yes.
The new Tomato asked him, "Do you know why?" He took a half step forward, moving closer. Although there was no one else in the alley, Lu Kai was influenced by him and leaned forward, tilting his head and making it look like he was meeting with an underground gang.
The new Tomato lowered his voice: "I think Sister Jing Huan..." He looked up and around, making sure that no one was around before continuing:
"Sister Jinghuan should be Sister Anya's shill."
Lu Kai was stunned for a moment: "What do you mean by shill?"
"Mahjong."
"roll."
…………
"A Million Ways" was successfully launched after Halloween. Lu Kai was afraid of being affected by previous events, so he did almost no extra publicity. When selling it online, he also specifically reminded bloggers not to mention the relationship between "A Million Ways", Lu Kai, and Waikiki.
While a few netizens did associate Lu Kai's debut work with the cat and chicken head, the backflip was primarily used to promote Little Sparrow, so few people knew about his previous work as "Chiji Dog," and this didn't generate much buzz. "A Million Ways" also performed well, relying on its exceptional creativity and quality to achieve strong sales. While not reaching the levels of Little Sparrow's, their data shows that it sold over 200,000 units in just over a month.
Ji Anya and the new Tomato were incredibly excited, but Zhao Jinghuan always gave Lu Kai the impression of a forced smile. Before New Year's Day, sales of "A Million Ways" surpassed 200,000. Lu Kai, unusually generous, announced he'd find a place with an average of over 500 people to celebrate. He also asked Ji Anya if she'd gotten over the trauma of her restaurant days.
Ji Anya said: "If the per capita income is below 100, there will still be a shadow. If the per capita income is above 500, then I can overcome it myself."
She and the new Tomato smiled as they went to search for hotels, and asked Zhao Jinghuan if there was anywhere she wanted to go. Zhao Jinghuan casually agreed, then lowered his head and went back to work.
Lu Kai thought for a moment, then walked over to her and sat down next to her. Zhao Jinghuan turned to look at him and asked him what was wrong.
Lu Kai said, "You don't seem very happy."
Zhao Jinhuan forced a smile and said, "No, why wouldn't I be happy? "A Million Ways" sold so well. It really surprised me."
"Yeah, I didn't expect it to sell so well." Lu Kai nodded, and after a while he spoke again:
"Boss Chen told you, Wan Feng's posthumous work is about to hit the production line."
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