Extra Chuci vs Tang Yutong 03
The sunlight shone through the gaps in the curtains, mercilessly piercing the darkness of the room.
Tang Yutong woke up to the buzzing of the alarm clock, feeling very dizzy.
She walked into the bathroom and saw in the mirror that her eyes were red and swollen, with dark circles under her eyes, clearly showing the mess she had made last night.
The cool water splashed on my face, bringing a brief sense of clarity.
Looking at her haggard self in the mirror, an almost ironic thought suddenly popped up in her mind - she was actually a little relieved.
Fortunately, Chu Ci is the young master of the Chu family who is high above her and far away from her.
Fortunately, his world is composed of top-tier clubs, private clubs and international flights, while hers is this ordinary apartment, a busy studio and a barbecue stall filled with smoke.
Their circles of life are like two parallel lines that intersect briefly and then quickly move away.
Apart from the extreme coincidence like last night, on weekdays, under the operating rules of this huge city, they would hardly have any intersection.
She didn't have to worry about running into him unexpectedly at a client meeting, or being embarrassed to hear about his new relationship at a friend's party, nor did she have to live in his shadow all the time, reminding herself how stupid and unbearable she had been.
"This is... best."
She spoke softly to herself in the mirror, her voice still hoarse.
This might be the only pitiful piece of luck she could grasp in this embarrassing defeat.
It was like a thin layer of armor, giving her the courage to walk out the door and continue the life she had to live.
She carefully used concealer to cover the marks under her eyes, just like trying to cover the cracks in her heart.
There are clients to meet and proposals to submit today. Life never stops because of anyone's heartbreak.
After packing up, Tang Yutong locked all the vulnerability and embarrassment of last night inside the apartment door.
She drove to the studio and was immediately enveloped by the daily chores and busyness, which made her feel a sense of grounded security.
Sitting down in the office, she habitually opened the customer follow-up form and her eyes fell on the name "Zhou Hongwei".
This client has a considerable dress order in hand. If the studio can get it, it will be a brilliant achievement for the studio.
However, Tang Yutong's brows furrowed unconsciously.
The few experiences I had with Zhou Hongwei were not pleasant.
The other party's attitude was ambiguous, always delaying by saying "I'll think about it again", and never gave any clear intentions or specific design requirements.
What made her even more uncomfortable was the look he gave her every time. That undisguised look, full of scrutiny and calculation, always lingered on her, causing her to feel physically uncomfortable.
For this order, she has invested a lot of time and energy in socializing and communicating. Every time, she endured the discomfort and told herself, "He is the Party A."
But today, looking at the bright sunlight outside the window, and thinking of myself in the mirror last night with red and swollen eyes, heartbroken because of a false relationship, an unprecedented sense of clarity and determination came over me.
When did she, Tang Yutong, need to compromise like this?
The energy and time she spent dealing with Zhou Hongwei were enough for her to negotiate several small orders.
Although the amounts of these small orders are not large, the cooperation is pleasant and the payments are clear, which allows her to maintain the most basic dignity and professional pleasure.
She took a deep breath, picked up the internal phone, and said to her assistant in a calm tone:
"Please check the expected timeline and budget details for Mr. Zhou's project and compile a report for me. Also, please bring me information on other potential clients we've recently contacted."
She decided to give Zhou Hongwei one last chance.
If the other party is still vague and lacks sincerity today, then it is better not to do business with us.
Some persistence is more important than temporary interests.
Especially when she had just struggled to piece herself back together bit by bit.
————
In the coffee shop at three o'clock in the afternoon, the sunlight shines through the glass window, casting a clear spot of light on the table.
Tang Yutong and Zhou Hongwei sat opposite each other, the air filled with the aroma of coffee and a hint of imperceptible tension.
After a few formal greetings, Tang Yutong got straight to the point.
She gently pushed the studio's materials over and clearly introduced the team's strengths, past cases and preliminary cost estimates again.
She spoke steadily and professionally, trying to keep the conversation firmly within the business realm.
However, Zhou Hongwei's body was lazily slumped in the leather sofa, his fingers tapping absentmindedly on the wall of the cup.
His eyes did not fall on the document, but lingered on Tang Yutong's face without any hesitation. The look in his eyes was full of scrutiny and a certain obscure amusement, making her feel like a commodity being appraised.
Tang Yutong's patience was gradually worn out by the other party's wandering gaze.
She finally stopped talking, met that uncomfortable gaze, and said in a slightly cold voice:
"Mr. Zhou, are you listening?"
Zhou Hongwei seemed to have just been awakened and forced a smile:
"Of course I'm listening, Mr. Tang, please continue."
His tone was perfunctory, but his eyes were still glued.
"I'm done."
Tang Yutong pulled the corners of his mouth, revealing a cold and professional smile.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Hongwei leaned forward, folded his hands on the table, and made a seemingly solemn gesture.
He smiled heartily and said:
"Alright! Mr. Tang is a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush. I've already considered it and am willing to give this order to you, Yihe."
Tang Yutong felt a little relieved, and the expression on her face eased a little.
Zhou Hongwei changed the subject and looked more direct:
"But I have a small condition."
He paused, his eyes wandering over her face.
"I have an important business banquet next week, and I'd like to invite Ms. Tang to attend as my female companion."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Yutong's fingers gripping the file folder suddenly tightened, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, and the edges of the paper were slightly deformed.
How could this be an invitation? It was a naked threat—using the order in exchange for her personal time. The implication was self-evident.
The music in the cafe was still soft, but she felt as if the air around her had suddenly frozen, making her feel suffocated.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Tang Yutong slowly loosened the grip on her fingertips and gently placed the wrinkled documents on the table.
She raised her eyes and looked at Zhou Hongwei calmly, and even a faint curve appeared on her lips again.
Her voice was clear and steady without a trace of emotion:
"Mr. Zhou, Yihe Studio provides professional design services. I appreciate your recognition of us, but as the head of the studio, my responsibility is to ensure the smooth delivery of the project, which does not include providing private escort services outside the scope of work."
She leaned forward slightly and pushed the document an inch closer to Zhou Hongwei, with a neither humble nor arrogant attitude.
"This cooperation proposal is based on professional capabilities and a reasonable price. It represents our sincerity and professionalism. If you choose us based on this, we will do our best to deliver a satisfactory result. However, if the cooperation requires the addition of other unnecessary conditions..."
She paused for a moment, without any evasive gaze, and looked frankly at Zhou Hongwei's somewhat ugly expression, and continued:
"Then, unfortunately, I think we may not be able to meet your requirements. Yihe cannot accept this order."
After saying that, she calmly picked up her handbag and stood up.
"Mr. Zhou, I've already paid for the coffee. Thank you for your time. Goodbye."
Without even looking at Zhou Hongwei's reaction, she turned around and left the cafe with steady steps.
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