Chapter 43: The little fish took the bait and even started asking her out. ...
"Mr. Yi, will you be attending the business banquet tomorrow night?" Xiao Yang asked, holding a tablet. "If you are, you need to leave before 8 p.m. We have an appointment with a business partner in Z province to discuss small home appliances the day after tomorrow."
"It doesn't start until 7:30, and we need to leave before 8:00." Yi Sheng glanced at the documents under her hand, her pen occasionally tracing over parts that concerned her. "Is it really necessary to go?"
"It's a bit rushed, just enough time for autographs and chatting with two or three other guests," Xiao Yang smiled. "But it doesn't seem really necessary."
There were no potential clients or projects that the Yi family was interested in at this business banquet.
"Okay, then I won't go." Yi Sheng paused, his pen still in his hand. "Wait, you have plans for the day after tomorrow?"
“Yes,” Xiao Yang reminded him, “so we’ll fly there tomorrow night.”
"I'm not going." Yi Sheng quickly made a decision.
"Hmm?" Xiao Yang was taken aback. "The business partners over there have been very eager to meet you."
"I know." That was the reason Yi Sheng made this trip, since she had nothing else to do recently. "However, let Yuan Zhao from the small appliance department handle it. He can manage the routine matters."
“Okay.” Xiao Yang smiled gently and shook her head at an angle where Yi Sheng couldn’t see her. “Then President Yuan should be very happy.”
"He..." Yi Sheng hummed, his tone ambiguous, "He still needs time to be worked out."
One of Yi's major initiatives this year was to develop its small appliance division, along with its foray into the home improvement industry and its collaboration with Santen.
Yuan Zhao was also personally promoted by Yi Sheng this year. If the original person in charge hadn't been too conservative, Yuan Zhao wouldn't have had this opportunity. It was a promotion he made through hard work.
Therefore, Yuan Zhao was particularly eager to prove his abilities and worked very hard for the past six months. Many people in the Yi family thought he was a rising star, but Xiao Yang felt that he was still a bit impetuous and that being rash was a big no-no.
"So what were your plans for that day?" Xiao Yang tapped the tablet, erasing the original schedule.
"It's a personal matter." Yi Sheng chuckled softly. "Don't make any arrangements for me that day."
Xiao Yang suddenly opened her eyes wide, then quickly lowered her head, "Yes, okay."
Mr. Yi's private matters?
What private matters could Mr. Yi possibly have?
Xiao Yang's mind raced. The Yi family had already been almost completely wiped out. Was President Yi going to cause trouble again?
Xiao Yang was extremely anxious.
Little Lamb, Charge! Waaaaah! I'm so sad!
Little Sheep, Rush! I really want to watch, witness, and be there in person!
Little Sheep, Charge! I'm going crazy! I'm going crazy! I'm going crazy! I have absolutely no interest in these trivial matters at hand!
Bai Yeke had just finished washing up and turned on her laptop when Xiao Yang's messages flooded in.
Coconut Cola: ?
Coconut Cola: What's wrong with you? Want to research bombs? Even being Liurun's chief assistant isn't enough for you?
Little Sheep Rush: Waaaaah, things have been so calm lately, and working overtime is so boring. It's all just easy tasks with no challenge at all!
Little Lamb, Charge! I feel like I'm going to be ruined if this keeps up...
Coconut Cola: Why don't you try being a little more modest?
Does this mean ordinary people like them can't live?
Little Lamb, Rush! I'm so sad! So sad! So sad! So sad!
Coconut Cola: I can feel it.
Little Lamb, Charge! No, you don't understand!
Coconut Cola: Okay, I really don't understand, so you have to tell me what triggered you this time.
A hint of a smile appeared in Bai Yeke's eyes. She had a feeling that this perpetual motion machine must have been stimulated by something even more explosive, such as her boss, Yi Sheng.
What outrageous thing has Miss Yi done this time?
Little Lamb, Charge! I don't know...
Bai Yeke's smile faltered.
Coconut Cola: ...?
She suddenly felt a little anxious, but she didn't want to show it.
Little Sheep, Charge! I know our CEO Yi is definitely going to cause trouble, but she's not including me!
Little Lamb, Charge! Don't take me! Don't take me!
Little Lamb Rush: Waaaaah, I've been with her for so many years, why is she still so distant? Even if I can't do anything, she could at least show me around and let me see the world!
Little Lamb, Charge! She's going to do something big the day after tomorrow! Leaving me all alone at the company, growing mushrooms!
Bai Yeke read through the sentences one by one, and when she got to the last sentence, she was stunned.
Coconut Cola: The day after tomorrow?
Xiao Yang paused for a moment, feeling it was inappropriate to reveal her boss's affairs, but after thinking about it, she realized she didn't know anything about it anyway, so there was nothing to reveal.
Little Lamb, Charge! Woof woof, that's right!
Little Sheep, Charge! She told me to clear out that day! I already had a business trip scheduled, but I crossed that off, so I'm definitely going to do something big!
Bai Ye frowned. The day after tomorrow was the time she and Yi Sheng had agreed to go shopping.
Yi Sheng had important things to do, so why did he accept her invitation?
Was it a big decision made after you agreed to it, and then you forgot about her?
That shouldn't be the case; Yi Sheng has always kept his promises.
Or is it that he had some free time after accomplishing something important, so he was able to go shopping with her and relax a bit?
Bai Ye wasn't sure; she was a little uneasy.
Regardless, Bai Yeke secretly hoped to meet him.
Just one day before the rest day, news of the competition finally came from headquarters.
Although the competition schedule and related rules have not yet been announced, the headquarters has asked each store to submit a list of designers who are interested in participating.
The store manager led the design department in a brief meeting.
"The company takes this event very seriously, as you all know," the store manager said with his usual affable smile as he spoke to everyone at the front. "Anyone who is interested can sign up."
"Really?" someone joked. "Aren't you worried that signing up will affect your work?"
"What impact will that have? The entries you submit for the competition are also part of the store's business," the store manager chuckled. "Besides, there are tons of people signing up, but how many will actually make it to the semi-finals? It's just for fun. It's the end of the year, so it's good for everyone to have some fun!"
"Ahem." The store manager cleared his throat and began the main event, "Of course, since this is a reporting event and a competition like this, everyone who wants to participate should take initiative. Relying solely on individual customers is meaningless, isn't it? If you can find some business celebrities or even stars in your family or among your relatives and friends, their status doesn't matter, as long as they get involved, that would be great, wouldn't it?"
"ah?!"
"Oh dear! This..."
"Hahaha, I knew it!"
Everyone reacted in their own way.
"Alright, everyone, think it over yourselves. If you're interested, just contact Manager Zhang to register!" The store manager waved his hand, ending the meeting.
Everyone returned to their places.
He Xin, pulling Bai Ye along, walked leisurely towards their workstations. "Yezi, are you signing up?"
"I'll apply." Although Bai Yeke lacked resources, she planned to try using various video platforms to see if any big names were willing to collaborate. If not, there was nothing she could do; she still had to participate in the competition. She wanted to improve and not stagnate. "What about you?"
"Of course I'll sign up too, but as the store manager said, I'll just join in the fun." He Xin nudged Bai Yeke's arm. "Look, that guy is all itching to get started."
Bai Yeke followed her gaze and saw the same man with the sword-like eyebrows from last time. He looked very confident and even walked differently than usual. Bai Yeke couldn't help but laugh when she saw him. "Heh." It was quite inexplicably funny.
"Tsk tsk tsk." He Xin guessed, "He must have some connections. Look at his sword-like eyebrows, he's destined to have a benefactor."
Bai Ye found it even funnier, "No, Designer He, you have so many abilities, I didn't even know you could read faces?"
“That’s right.” He Xin raised an eyebrow at Bai Yeke as if she understood. “I think your benefactor is more important than him.”
"What?" Bai Ye was completely bewildered. "You're really good at fortune telling?"
"Ahem." He Xin cleared her throat and said softly, "You'll be looking for President Yi, right?"
Bai Yeke's heart skipped a beat.
It would be a lie to say that she hadn't had the thought at all, but it only surfaced for a fleeting moment before she suppressed it.
She won't look for Yi Sheng.
Their relationship hasn't reached that point, so why should they? It's not like they have any truly equal interactions.
If Yi Sheng were to support her, she could reciprocate with something of equal value, and that would be fine.
Their friendships transcended social classes.
Therefore, it should be kept pure; she wouldn't make requests she shouldn't, lest this hard-won friendship become tainted.
"Hehe." Bai Yeke chuckled softly, "How could that be? We only had one design project together. I can't invite someone like President Yi."
"Huh?" He Xin looked disappointed upon hearing this. "After the contract ended, President Yi came to see you a few times. We all thought you two had a pretty good personal relationship."
"That's true," He Xin quickly reassured her. "We can't possibly get close to someone of President Yi's social standing. Just having a few interactions with him would be a great honor!"
Bai Yeke laughed it off.
On her day off, Bai Ye woke up early. After washing up as usual, she soaked a bowl of oatmeal in milk, microwaved it for a minute, and it was warm and just the right temperature.
It's not that I don't want to sleep in, it's that I can't fall asleep.
Bai Ye was concerned about today's invitation, but she didn't know what the so-called big event on Yi Sheng's side was all about. She didn't dare to ask rashly, so she could only prepare everything and wait for Yi Sheng's summons at any time.
Bai Yeke opened her laptop out of boredom, yawning as she ate breakfast and scrolled through short home decoration videos.
Less than half an hour later, Yi Sheng sent a message.
A life of simplicity: Has Miss Bai woken up?
Coconut Coke: Image
She slapped her computer screen to show that she was not only awake, but also already working and studying.
A life of simplicity: The mall opens at 10 a.m., I'll pick you up in 20 minutes.
Bai Yeke's eyes curved into a smile, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was greatly relieved. Yi Sheng had not forgotten her and had not stood her up.
Coconut Cola: Okay.
She glanced at the time in the bottom right corner: 8:50.
If Yi Sheng arrives in twenty minutes, it will be just past nine o'clock. Driving to another shopping mall shouldn't take more than twenty minutes, right? That's still very early, the malls won't even be open yet.
A life of simplicity: You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Let's have breakfast first, then go to the mall; it'll be about the same time.
So that's how it is.
Bai Ye glanced at the oatmeal porridge on her table and typed without changing her expression.
Coconut Cola: Great, I haven't had any yet.
Bai Ye arrived at the elevator entrance of the underground parking garage ahead of time. When she saw the familiar Panamera approaching from afar, the smile on her face softened involuntarily.
Yi Sheng couldn't find a parking space, so Bai Ye ran a few steps to the car, got in, and fastened her seatbelt skillfully.
Seeing that Bai Ye was panting heavily, Yi Sheng couldn't help but laugh. When Bai Ye saw her laugh, she also laughed.
As the car drove out of the underground parking garage, a bright light greeted us.
"Tell me, what do you want to do with me today?"
A faint smile played on Yi Sheng's lips.
When Xiao Yang reported the invitation to the towering mountain, she already had an idea and made a decision, but she didn't tell anyone.
She didn't want to always be the one to offer help, but Bai Ye was still very conflicted, so she delayed for several days.
Sure enough, he hooked a small fish and even started asking her out.
Yi Sheng gripped the steering wheel and casually asked, "Do you want me to collaborate with your company, or do you want me to design another piece for your competition?"
Today, Yi Sheng wore white wool suit pants, a smoky purple pullover sweater, and a black leather jacket. It was a different outfit from his usual attire, but he was still as sophisticated and sharp as ever, and looked even more aloof, which was very eye-catching.
Bai Ye was taken aback at first, then quickly shook her head, "No, no! Really no!"
This is a huge misunderstanding!
In her heart, Bai Yeke screamed that she absolutely did not intend to use Yi Sheng; she simply wanted to ask Yi Sheng out for a walk!
The air conditioning in the carriage was on full blast, making it warm but also creating an eerie and quiet atmosphere.
Yi Sheng's smile faded, the curve of her jawline became more pronounced, and her exposed neck was long and beautiful, but the lines looked very cold.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com