Tears fell into the coffee cup in front of me like spilled lemon juice.
Song Yunxi's meeting with Chi Li was more successful than she had imagined.
She could tell that Chi Li had shown great interest in her initial ideas after hearing them at the KTV yesterday; otherwise, she wouldn't have asked her to come and discuss them in detail this morning.
Today, she promised Chi Li that she could coordinate ST Group's relationships in South Korea and provide the greatest assistance to Chi Group's expansion into South Korea.
Stepping out of the Chi Group building, the sun was blazing, making it hard to open one's eyes. Song Yunxi shielded her forehead from the light with one hand while holding her phone in the other, which showed that her booked car was 0.1 kilometers away.
As soon as she looked away from her phone, a car stopped in front of her, and Song Yunxi immediately opened the car door and sat in the back seat.
When the driver handed her a bottle of mineral water from the front seat, Song Yunxi was flipping through the documents in her hand, intending to highlight the questions raised by Chi Li.
She took the bottled water without looking up and thanked him.
The person in the driver's seat glanced at her in the rearview mirror, said nothing, but smiled slightly. Then they started the car and drove onto the main road.
Two minutes later, Song Yunxi's phone rang. When she answered, it was someone claiming to be her private car driver asking where she was.
She turned to look out the window, momentarily unable to place herself. Then she realized something was wrong—she was in the car; how could the driver have called her?
She glanced at the driver's seat, but could only see the other person's back. When she looked up at the rearview mirror again, she wondered if the person in the driver's seat was also looking at her in the mirror? She wasn't sure, because the person was wearing sunglasses that covered their eyes.
However, Song Yunxi recognized Mu Chen at a glance.
He was still dressed in his usual black shirt and black trousers, and now he was wearing black sunglasses to shield his eyes from the sun. Anyone who didn't know him would think he was a bodyguard straight out of a movie. Except, this bodyguard was just too handsome.
Song Yunxi quickly said to the real driver on the other end of the phone, "I'm sorry, sir, I think I got into the wrong car. I'll cancel the order right now, and I'll fully compensate you for your losses."
The driver was quite polite and expressed his understanding before Song Yunxi hung up the phone.
Before Song Yunxi could even ask Mu Chen why he was there, he asked first, "Was everything alright?"
"Yes, everything went smoothly. Ms. Chi is very interested in our proposal. The next step is to form a project team and coordinate the details." Song Yunxi paused for a moment and then continued, "I would like to invite a professional consulting firm to work on this project. Since this is the first time for both of us to do a brand collaboration, there may be some oversights."
This was something Song Yunxi suddenly thought of when she left the Chi Group. Although they could have done a good job by doing more research, collecting more data, and revising the project plan several times, they still had a reason to succeed.
However, these things require a lot of time for laypeople. Professional consulting firms, on the other hand, have similar experience and can help projects avoid detours.
The project's launch is just the beginning of its success; otherwise, all the previous efforts are for naught. The principle that time is money remains eternally true.
Mu Chen asked, "You want to find He Yi?"
Song Yunxi nodded. "Yes."
"Hmm." Mu Chen hummed softly and said nothing more, which was taken as tacit agreement.
Although he was very dissatisfied with Tantai Yi's repeated meetings with Song Yunxi during his stay at the Platinum Hotel, He Yi was undoubtedly the best partner for the brand collaboration project.
First-class companies do first-class things; only through strong alliances can we create world-renowned brilliance.
The car drove into a parking lot that Song Yunxi was not familiar with. Seeing Mu Chen get out of the car, she followed him out.
The waiter at the restaurant entrance quickly ran over and held up a large umbrella over Song Yunxi's head to shield her from the sun.
Mu Chen reached out and took off his sunglasses, turning to look at Song Yunxi. "I heard the food here is good. Shall I treat Miss Song to lunch before we go back?"
Song Yunxi smiled, "Thank you, President Mu."
The restaurant is decorated in the style of Jiangnan, with rocks, bamboo, trees, bridges and flowing water at the entrance. The dining area is designed like a series of ancient painted boats, with the tables placed in the center of each boat.
The waiter led the two to a painted boat. Mu Chen took the lead and walked onto the wooden bridge connecting the boat to the shore. Then, standing in the middle of the bridge, he turned around and extended his hand to Song Yunxi. Song Yunxi did not refuse and smiled as she reached out her hand.
To be honest, she was a little afraid of falling while walking on the sloping wooden bridge in high heels. It would be perfect if someone could help her like this.
Once they were both standing on the flat ground of the pleasure boat, Mu Chen released Song Yunxi's hand. Then, before the waiter could react, he pulled out a wooden chair for her.
While waiting for the food, Song Yunxi turned her head and looked around. "The environment here is nice."
"Mm." Mu Chen nodded, his gaze falling on Song Yunxi's face.
He could clearly sense that although Song Yunxi was still smiling when she spoke to him and didn't refuse his invitations, she was intentionally or unintentionally trying to avoid him, or only discussing work when they met. Just like now, she was deliberately trying to find topics to avoid awkwardness.
She said, "The environment here is nice," which is the same as saying "The weather is nice today" when having an awkward conversation with a foreigner.
She wasn't like this at all when she was flirting with him before.
When did she stop flirting with him? It seems like it was after she told Fu Meilin that she was going to steal him away. So, why did she stop trying to steal him?
"Mr. Mu, do you have any requirements for your cartoon character? I will communicate with the designer and try my best to meet them."
Sure enough, Song Yunxi started talking to him about work again.
Mu Chen didn't answer the question, but instead asked, "What's the reason Miss Song has changed so much?"
Song Yunxi paused for a moment, then smiled. "Have I changed?"
Mu Chen nodded slightly. He glanced at her phone on the dining table and said with a hint of resentment, "You even changed your phone's background image."
Previously, Song Yunxi's phone wallpaper was a photo of the two of them looking at the stars together at the party, but now it has been changed to a light-colored landscape picture.
"If I have caused any trouble for President Mu before, I apologize."
"Because of Li Shenghuan?"
“Shenghuan is my good friend, but there is no other relationship between us.”
Just as Song Yunxi finished speaking, her phone rang. Then, Mu Chen saw Song Yunxi's expression change from a smile to a serious one. He had never seen Song Yunxi with this expression before.
Song Yunxi respectfully addressed the person on the other end of the phone: "Chairman."
"Ms. Song, I hope that Executive Director Li Shenghuan can return to the country as soon as possible."
Chairman Li's short, emotionless, and businesslike words made the weight on Song Yunxi's heart even heavier.
We really should have a serious talk with Li Shenghuan.
*
After Lin Xiaoran neatly placed the completed documents on Song Yunxi's desk, she prepared to go to the cafeteria for lunch.
Just as I stepped out of the office, I saw Jiang Hailang come out of the elevator and head straight for the lobby bar.
She looked towards the lobby bar, where the person waving to him was her ex-girlfriend whom she had seen at Kiss T the night before. However, her ex-girlfriend didn't look as heavily made-up as she had yesterday, and her clothes were more dignified and elegant.
Jiang Hailang was somewhat surprised when he received Gao Jiali's call. They hadn't been in contact for several years, and he hadn't given her his phone number yesterday.
Gao Jiali smiled innocently: "Hailang, it's been a long time."
Jiang Hailang smiled as well, "What do you need me for?"
"Old friend, can't we catch up? We've known each other for seven or eight years now."
"Catch up?" Jiang Hailang leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.
He didn't order anything or say anything more, acting as if he would listen to Gao Jiali if she wanted to, and leave at any time if she had nothing to say.
Seeing that Jiang Hailang was no longer speaking, Gao Jiali said, "Actually, I'm talking to President Jiang, oh, Jiang Yucheng, about a collaboration. Although they are an internet celebrity company, they have produced many famous anchors. You know I studied broadcasting and hosting, but I can't get into TV stations now, so I want to see if President Jiang's company has any opportunities."
Jiang Hailang remained silent, but nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.
"President Jiang knows that we are classmates, so he wants me to talk to you. He hopes that you can give his father more support in the future at the Platinum Hotel."
The words were phrased tactfully, but the meaning was clear. Wasn't the goal to get Jiang Hailang to betray Mu Chen and side with President Jiang?
When Gao Jiali met Jiang Hailang's somewhat piercing gaze, she unconsciously lowered her head. She didn't actually want to come, but after Jiang Hailang left with Lin Xiaoran yesterday, Jiang Yucheng had a long talk with her.
She's past the prime age to become an online influencer. These days, only young and pretty girls become famous. Even if she gets into Jiang Yucheng's company, it will take a lot of manpower and resources to promote her.
Jiang Yucheng wouldn't waste this money, so he naturally expected her to show some sincerity. And persuading Jiang Hailang to cooperate with President Jiang was her greatest show of sincerity.
She knew she and Jiang Hailang had broken up years ago, and he might not listen to her. But Jiang Yucheng said, "How do you know it won't work if you don't try? Jiang Hailang has had so many girlfriends over the years, but none of them lasted. How do you know he's not still hung up on you? After all, men find it hardest to forget their first love."
"When it comes to work matters, I will naturally support the side that is in the best interest of the hotel. There is no need for Miss Gao to worry about that."
Gao Jiali looked at Jiang Hailang with a pitiful expression and pleaded, "Hailang, I know you still blame me, but we've been together for so long. Please help me out of consideration for our past relationship. This is really my last chance."
"First of all, I don't blame you. Our issues are from many years ago, so there's no need to bring them up again. Secondly, as an alumnus, I will naturally help where I can. But that doesn't include doing things that violate normal work procedures."
"The waves..." Gao Jiali's eyes were filled with tears, as if she would burst into tears if she said another word.
“Miss Gao, Mr. Lang has already made it very clear that he will help if he can, and please don’t try to morally blackmail him if he can’t. After all, you were the one who gave up on him back then, and he has done nothing to wrong you. So, it’s only right that he helps you now, and it’s also reasonable for him not to.”
Jiang Hailang turned around and saw Lin Xiaoran standing behind him. She was holding a pink lunchbox, frowned at Gao Jiali, and then shifted her gaze to Jiang Hailang.
Jiang Hailang met her gaze, and Lin Xiaoran asked him, "Are you hungry? Want to go eat?"
"Okay." Jiang Hailang stood up from his seat and said politely to Gao Jiali, "Miss Gao, please make yourself at home."
Lin Xiaoran waved the lunchbox in her hand and asked Jiang Hailang, "Do you eat spicy food? I brought my mom's homemade chili sauce, it's really delicious. Want you to try some later?"
Jiang Hailang smiled and nodded: "Okay."
As Gao Jiali watched the two figures leave, tears streamed down her face like spilled lemon juice, falling into the coffee cup in front of her.
The first time, she gave up Jiang Hailang for the sake of her future. The second time, she came to Jiang Hailang again for the sake of her future. Unfortunately, in the end, she got nothing.
But it benefited other little devils!
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