Accept help
A few days later, the agent took her to see a loft located in a creative park.
The space is spacious and has excellent natural light, yet the price is surprisingly low.
"Is there something wrong with this price?" Lin Tingyue asked.
The agent smiled broadly: "Ms. Lin, don't worry. The owner is an overseas Chinese who is not short of money. His only requirement is that the tenant must be a promising independent designer who can take good care of this place. I have seen your portfolio and I think it fits perfectly."
The coincidences were too perfect, which aroused her suspicion.
When she got home, she found a top-of-the-line Apple iMac and a graphics tablet in her room.
She called Chi Zhuo to ask, but he explained that it was equipment that the company's technical department had replaced and phased out.
Lin Tingyue felt that this was a bit unbelievable; the equipment that the company discarded could not possibly be brand new.
However, since Chi Zhuo didn't want to tell the truth, there was no need for her to press him.
She stroked the cold screen, her feelings a mix of emotions.
The feeling of having everything arranged for her silently gave her a sense of security, but also an indescribable feeling of constraint.
In the evening, Chi Zhuo returned home unexpectedly early.
When he entered the living room, Lin Tingyue was sitting on the carpet, surrounded by a pile of colorful fabric samples, her brows furrowed.
He took off his suit jacket, casually draped it over the sofa armrest, loosened his tie, and sat down next to her.
The intense presence made Lin Tingyue tense up instantly.
He picked up a piece of royal blue silk, then picked up a piece of off-white imported cotton linen.
“If it’s for that asymmetrical dress in your sketch, this weight and drape would be better.”
His voice was calm, devoid of emotion.
Lin Tingyue looked up in astonishment: "You... know about this?"
Chi Zhuo turned his head, his deep gaze falling on her face with a hint of scrutiny. "Chi's Group has a clothing line."
He actually remembered her design sketches?
Before she could recover from her surprise, Chi Zhuo had already given a few brief comments based on the main fabrics.
From material characteristics to market preferences, the words are precise and incisive.
A few days later, in the afternoon, Xia Xiaoran visited with her senior, Gu Yanzhi.
Gu Yanzhi, dressed in a light-colored sweater, had a gentle demeanor. He was a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and startup cases, and he was there to help review the studio's cooperation terms.
The three of them discussed things in the living room in a harmonious atmosphere.
The sound of a door opening came from the entryway.
Chi Zhuo walked in and saw the stranger in the living room. He didn't stop walking, and his expression remained unchanged.
But the temperature in the living room seemed to drop several degrees instantly.
"Mr. Chi," Xia Xiaoran greeted him quickly, though she seemed a little reserved.
Gu Yanzhi also stood up and nodded politely: "President Chi, I've heard so much about you."
Chi Zhuo's gaze lingered on Gu Yanzhi for a fleeting moment, extremely quick, yet with a sharp scrutiny.
He nodded slightly: "You two are Tingyue's friends, no need to be so polite."
He walked over to the single sofa next to Lin Tingyue and sat down, his posture relaxed, yet he inadvertently claimed the space.
He didn't do anything intentionally; he simply draped his arm casually over the back of the sofa behind her, a gesture full of possessiveness.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice steady but carrying an undeniable air of authority.
Lin Tingyue felt the air behind her become scorching hot.
"I'm asking Attorney Gu to help me review the studio's contract."
Chi Zhuo picked up the simple cooperation agreement on the coffee table, glanced at it a few times, and put it down.
"The terms are too broad. I'll have my legal team draft a standard template for you tomorrow."
The tone is declarative, not consultative.
Gu Yanzhi smiled, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant: "President Chi's legal team is naturally top-notch. I'm just helping Miss Lin to initially avoid some common risks."
The two men's gazes met briefly in the air; beneath the calm surface lay a silent contest.
Chi Zhuo didn't say anything more, but for the rest of the time, although he didn't speak again, his presence was so strong that no one could ignore him.
Xia Xiaoran and Gu Yanzhi got up to say goodbye after sitting for a short while.
After seeing the guests off, only the two of them remained in the apartment.
Chi Zhuo got up and walked to the study, remaining silent the entire time.
Lin Tingyue stood in the empty living room, yet she could clearly feel the unspoken chill emanating from him.
He was unhappy.
She was almost certain that the source of her unhappiness was the gentle and refined visitor, Gu Yanzhi.
She decided to have a proper talk with Chi Zhuo, so she walked to the study door and knocked gently.
"Enter."
Lin Tingyue pushed open the door, but didn't go in. She stood at the doorway, looking at him.
"What is it?" Chi Zhuo's voice was indifferent, revealing no emotion, yet it only increased the pressure on the listener.
"...I..." Lin Tingyue paused for a moment, trying to calm herself down. "Attorney Gu was found by Xia Xiaoran to review the contract framework. He is very professional in this area."
She stood at the doorway, hesitating and waiting for the other person's response.
Chi Zhuo finally stopped what he was doing, then looked up at her, a hint of probing in his eyes, "I know."
He remained calm and composed throughout, saying, "I did not question the professional competence of that lawyer, Gu."
He then added meaningfully, "This is just a reminder that business collaborations require even greater rigor."
“The studio is just starting out, and there are many things we need to be careful about. Having a professional help can help us avoid a lot of trouble,” Lin Tingyue added, trying to explain that she did not disagree with his arrangements.
"I told you, my legal team will give you a standard template tomorrow."
Chi Zhuo interrupted her, his tone still calm but with an undeniable determination, "Chi's cooperation terms have been thoroughly refined and are more comprehensive and secure than any template your friend could find."
This is not a discussion, it is a notification.
It is a dimensional reduction attack from the perspective of absolute power.
Lin Tingyue looked at him and suddenly realized that arguing at this moment was pointless.
In his constructive framework, her rebuttal seemed so weak and powerless.
She paused for a few seconds, then nodded gently, "Okay."
Seeing that she agreed, the coldness on Chi Zhuo's face seemed to soften almost imperceptibly.
He turned his gaze back to the computer screen, clearly ending the brief exchange.
Lin Tingyue silently left the study and gently closed the door behind her.
Perhaps this was an unequal transaction from the start, and she had no right to refuse.
The next morning, as expected, the head of Chi Zhuo's legal team contacted Lin Tingyue with a respectful and professional attitude.
The person in charge inquired in detail about her studio type, business scope, and initial cooperation ideas, and said that they would tailor a complete contract system for her as soon as possible.
The high efficiency and attentive service allowed her to once again directly experience the power represented by the name "Chi".
She was standing in the empty loft when her phone rang. It was Xia Xiaoran.
"Tingyue, were you alright yesterday? Did President Chi say anything afterwards?"
Xia Xiaoran's voice was a little cautious.
"It's nothing." Lin Tingyue walked to the window and looked at the fashionable men and women walking around in the creative park downstairs. "That's just how he is, he doesn't talk much."
"I was terrified! When President Chi came in, I felt the room temperature drop by ten degrees instantly! Although he didn't say anything or show any displeasure, his aura... tsk tsk."
Xia Xiaoran was still shaken. "But he seemed to care about you a lot, didn't he? That posture was practically a declaration of ownership! Senior Gu later told me that President Chi's gaze towards him was like a knife."
Lin Tingyue's fingers tightened slightly as she held her phone: "Don't talk nonsense. He probably just doesn't like strangers coming to his house."
"Come on, my CEO Chi isn't that petty. I think he's just jealous!" Xia Xiaoran said confidently. "But Tingyue, to be honest, with CEO Chi protecting you, your studio will definitely have a smooth run. Senior Gu said his legal team is top-tier in the industry; we usually don't even have access to them."
"Yes, I know," Lin Tingyue replied softly.
After hanging up the phone, she stayed in the loft for a long time, measuring dimensions, planning areas, and drawing simple layout sketches on her tablet.
The passion for creation temporarily overwhelmed the jumbled thoughts.
When she returned home in the evening, Chi Zhuo was back earlier than she had expected.
He was sitting on the sofa in the living room, looking at the latest news on his tablet.
The atmosphere seemed much more relaxed than yesterday.
Lin Tingyue changed into slippers, walked over, and sat down on the single sofa next to him.
“I’ve looked at the loft,” she said, her voice unusually clear in the quiet living room. “The space is great, I plan to rent it.”
Chi Zhuo paused, his hand gripping the tablet. He looked up at her, his gaze deep: "Have you decided?"
“Yes.” Lin Tingyue nodded. “Although it feels a bit too smooth, it’s a rare opportunity. And,” she paused, meeting his gaze, “I trust your judgment.”
This statement carried a hint of probing, and also a hint of compromise.
A faint ripple seemed to flicker across Chi Zhuo's deep eyes, so fleeting as to be almost imperceptible.
"The location and layout are good, suitable for initial use. We can change it later if needed."
His tone was flat, as if he were commenting on an ordinary commercial real estate project.
"The legal department contacted me, thank you."
"Hmm," he responded, seemingly not intending to continue the topic.
The brief exchange fell silent again.
But this silence was no longer as cold and suffocating as yesterday's; instead, it carried a subtle and tense calm.
He stopped asking questions, and she stopped explaining.
The two sides maintain a delicate balance, and neither has crossed the line yet.
Over the next few days, Lin Tingyue was busy setting up her new studio, and Chi Zhuo didn't interfere much, only handing her a card.
"Consider the initial investment in the studio as my investment." His reasoning was direct and businesslike: "I believe in your potential."
Lin Tingyue looked at the black card but didn't take it immediately.
She knew that accepting it meant a deeper bond, and that it might be even harder for her to figure out what was left between her and him besides that piece of paper.
"I will return it to you as soon as possible." She finally took the card, her voice firm.
This is not charity, it's an investment. She will prove in the future that his investment was worthwhile with the results.
Chi Zhuo remained noncommittal, only offering a brief reminder: "Be careful to control costs."
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