Chapter 27: Qingyan has to go to class, and she also has to fight for her own empire?
Su Ruan forced herself to stay calm and managed a smile.
She looked up, and the feigned innocence was gone from her almond-shaped eyes.
"President Yan has excellent eyesight and hearing."
Her voice was clear and crisp, and she readily admitted it.
"The information network is indeed very efficient."
Yan Tingnan didn't reply; his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses was calm and composed.
He picked up the cup of warmed plum wine and took another sip.
"Tell me, which part of Qingyan's body do you want to gnaw on during this meal?"
Su Ruan simply put down her chopsticks, leaned forward slightly, and looked directly into those unfathomable eyes through the rising steam.
"Since you already know, I won't beat around the bush."
She stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point.
"I would like to ask Mr. Yan to give SoftVoice a chance."
"We don't seek official sponsorship, we just want a booth in the merchandise area or the VIP preview."
Visitors to the Qingyan Art Exhibition are high-net-worth collectors and art enthusiasts from Beijing and even across the country.
These are precisely SoftVoice's target customer groups.
If we could get a ride on Qingyan's giant ship, even just a tiny bit of it,
For startup brands like theirs, this is a top-tier endorsement of trust and a certification of quality.
Therefore, she had to go to great lengths to win over Yan Tingnan.
Yan Tingnan raised her eyebrows slightly, signaling her to continue.
Su Ruan's heart was in her throat, but she didn't show any fear on her face.
Her tone softened further, carrying a hint of desperate honesty.
"For President Yan, this is probably just a small matter of moving a finger."
"But for SoftVoice, it might be that final breath that decides their fate."
"SoftVoice is a startup, and what it lacks is not design, but trust endorsement."
"Qingyan's endorsement is worth more than a million dollars in advertising."
"If even a little light leaks through President Yan's fingers, it'll be enough for us to survive."
After she finished speaking, she held her breath and concentrated.
The 200,000 yuan suit and this meal were both part of a setup; now, the hook has finally been thrown out.
Success or failure hinges entirely on the single thought of the Buddha opposite.
Yan Tingnan didn't speak, and put down his wine cup.
He picked up a warm, damp cloth and slowly wiped his slender hands, exuding an aura of composure and control.
"Assistant Su is ambitious and has quite the appetite."
He spoke, his voice low and unreadable, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"Qingyan has to go to work, and he also has to build his own empire?"
He tapped the table with his index finger, slowly.
"Blurring the lines between public and private matters is a major taboo in the workplace."
Su Ruan felt a chill, but the arrow had already left the bowstring, and there was no turning back.
She met his gaze with a hint of stubbornness.
"President Yan, it is precisely because you can distinguish clearly that you dare to speak up."
"Song Shengsheng, the design director of SoftVoice, is a gold medalist in jewelry design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Her works are full of inspiration and will never lower the style of Breaking the Cocoon."
"Qingyan provides the platform, and SoftVoice adds color to the exhibition with its works, attracting more attention and derivative consumption. It's a win-win situation."
She paused, then added.
"Besides, I'm just doing business and trying to give my brand a fair chance to compete."
"Would President Yan reject a potential high-quality partner just because of a personal relationship?"
As she spoke, she pointed to the SoftVoice core design booklet she had brought on the table and pushed it in front of Yan Tingnan.
As the booklet is opened, Song Shengsheng's sketches for the "Moonlight Over the Vast Sea" series leap off the page.
Yan Tingnan's gaze swept over the design draft.
It truly possesses a spiritual quality; it is no ordinary object.
Yan Tingnan chuckled and leisurely poured himself another glass of wine.
"Assistant Su, Qingyan is not a charity."
"Who gave a newly registered studio the audacity to try and make something out of nothing?"
"It was given to me by you, Mr. Yan."
Su Ruan did not back down. She met his gaze and spoke at a steady pace, each word hitting the mark.
“You know everything. From when I registered my studio to why I’m sitting here today, you know it all perfectly well.”
"But you still came, and you accepted the gift."
Her red lips curled up, as if revealing a tacitly understood secret.
"You've already weighed the options in your heart. The fact that you're willing to sit here and listen to me speak is tantamount to tacitly agreeing to this deal, isn't it?"
Yan Tingnan's gaze sharpened, then a faint hint of amusement appeared on his face.
He suddenly chuckled, breaking the tense atmosphere.
There was no sarcasm in the laughter; instead, it carried a hint of amusement at having met a worthy opponent.
"Assistant Su."
"So now you've learned to use my feelings as leverage?"
"So many people were practically fighting to get to Qingyan's booth."
What will you offer in exchange?
Su Ruan felt reassured, and a smile bloomed on her face.
The deal is basically done.
"The booth rental fee will still be paid, but the sales commission will be doubled."
"Qingyan enjoys priority in cooperating with SoftVoice on the first launch of new products for the next three years."
"For the first three months after any new product launch, Qingyan channels will be the sole sales outlet, and exclusive design and customization services will be provided to Qingyan clients."
"Is this enough sincerity, Mr. Yan?"
Yan Tingnan did not answer immediately.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingertips slowly twirling the sandalwood beads, making a soft rustling sound.
It's like plucking at a heartstring, or weighing an unspoken deal.
Only the faint crackling of the stove and the silent standoff between the two men remained in the private room.
Ambiguity and scheming collided and pulled fiercely in the air.
After a long pause, he slightly parted his thin lips.
"Next Monday, 10:00 AM."
"With the core design series of SoftVoice, and a complete business plan."
He paused, then emphasized his words.
"And a proposal that satisfies me, come to my office."
He put down his glass, the bottom of which made a crisp, light sound as it hit the table, like a mallet striking its final note.
"Your chance is here."
He leaned forward slightly, his powerful aura silently enveloping the area across the dining table.
"As for whether you can catch it, that depends on your skills."
It's done!
The huge weight that had been hanging over Su Ruan's heart suddenly lifted, unleashing a secret, overwhelming joy.
Her face showed no sign of it, only her almond-shaped eyes curved upwards, and the dimples on her cheeks bloomed exceptionally beautifully.
"Don't worry, Mr. Yan, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
She picked up the warm plum wine and, through the rising steam, offered it a toast to Yan Tingnan from afar.
After the meal, Yan Tingnan gestured to the waiter to settle the bill.
"Sir, the bill has been processed."
The waiter bowed, his voice respectful.
Yan Tingnan lifted his eyelids, his gaze falling heavily on Su Ruan's face.
He has always been the one in control, the one who gets whatever he wants.
Was the woman treating you to a meal and paying the bill?
This was the first time in his 32 years of life.
"Assistant Su is indeed meticulous in her work."
His tone was unreadable, revealing neither joy nor anger.
Su Ruan was slowly sipping the last sip of tea when she saw this, and her almond-shaped eyes curved into a smile.
"Since President Yan is kind enough to have me dine here, I will naturally do my best to accommodate him."
Yan Tingnan said no more and stood up.
Su Ruan followed closely behind.
Yan Tingnan and Su Ruan walked out of the Tingsong private room one after the other.
The bamboo curtain was rolled up, letting in the light from the outside corridor.
Just as I turned past a screen with swaying bamboo shadows, I bumped into several people.
Wen Wanwan was affectionately arm in arm with a gentle and elegant middle-aged woman, while a refined-looking middle-aged man stood beside them.
They were Wen Wanwan's parents, Wen Shuheng and Shen Mingwei.
The family of three chatted and laughed happily; the father was kind, the mother was loving, and the daughter was charming.
"Mr. Yan?"
Wen Wanwan's voice carried just the right amount of surprise and joy as she pulled her parents along quickly.
"What a coincidence, you're dining here too?"
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