Perhaps it would be better to play along?
The joy of the board's approval was like a fleeting tide, quickly blocked by the cold, hard reef of reality in the implementation phase.
The "Spark Program" project team barely had a chance to catch their breath before plunging into an even more complex and intricate battle. The pressure did not lessen; it simply shifted from macro-level strategic maneuvering to addressing individual challenges one by one.
Cui Yu's office became the new "frontline command post".
He was no longer facing a clear adversary, but rather the deeply entrenched departmental barriers and the inertia of caution and conservatism within the group.
The finance department's approval process was incredibly slow, requiring him to repeatedly communicate and even argue for every payment. The human resources department looked hesitant when faced with his talent requests, explaining that various projects were vying for staff. Even the administration department appeared inefficient in allocating office resources.
Cui Yu demonstrated a different kind of leadership compared to Meng Yihe: superb negotiation skills and flexible coordination abilities. But he was also undeniably assertive.
He no longer always wore that relaxed smile; instead, he became more aggressive and purposeful. He could chat amiably with the CFO on the phone one minute, and then turn cold and pressured in the next meeting because of HR's shirking of responsibility. Only after hanging up the phone would he rub his temples, revealing a barely perceptible hint of fatigue.
This internal resource war, fought without bloodshed, consumed a great deal of his energy.
At the same time, Meng Yihe faced a series of specific difficulties in the process of implementing the plan.
Investment attraction efforts are lukewarm: preferred anchor bookstore brands have declined to move in.
Upon hearing the news, the atmosphere in the Strategy Department became somber.
Meng Yihe did not lose his temper. Instead, he immediately summoned Xu Rui, Lin Xueyue, and others. He calmly listened to the key points of their feedback and then spoke, his voice clear and calm: "Their concerns are focused on risks and market perception."
"Lin Xueyue, within a day, I need to see more detailed survey data on the city's high-end cultural consumers to quantify our potential customer base."
“Xu Rui, don’t limit yourself to bookstores. Re-examine the business formats with cultural characteristics that can become ‘spiritual landmarks,’ make a list, and evaluate the possibility of cooperation. We need to let data and new solutions speak for themselves, not emotions.”
His precise instructions instantly dispelled the team's confusion and gave them a clear direction.
There is also resistance from the public.
Faced with opposition from the square-dancing aunties, the young people in the team felt at a loss.
Meng Yihe had Shen Xinyi compile the residents' opinions in detail, and then made an unexpected decision: he personally attended one of the residents' evening gatherings. He didn't adopt a condescending attitude, but calmly listened to their demands before speaking; his tone remained calm, yet carried a persuasive quality.
"The renovation isn't about driving people away, but about making this place better so that people are more willing to come here. The new plaza will retain enough activity space and will add lighting, rest facilities, and greenery. This is the preliminary design adjustment plan, you can take a look." The renderings of the adjustment plan, which he had Gao Yuan prepare in advance and which took into account the needs of the residents, played a crucial role.
Although Meng Yihe herself still seemed somewhat distant, this respectful communication effectively eased the conflict.
The middle-aged woman leading the square dance thought it sounded pretty good.
Others also felt this was feasible.
Just as things were progressing smoothly and the aunties were nodding and discussing the renderings, one particularly enthusiastic auntie looked Meng Yihe up and down, her eyes lighting up.
"Wow, what a handsome young man! And leading such a big project, he must be very capable! How old are you? Do you have a girlfriend?"
Faced with the woman's enthusiastic questioning, Meng Yihe's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He, who could remain unfazed even when dealing with contracts worth hundreds of millions, seemed somewhat at a loss for words when faced with such a direct question.
He instinctively answered truthfully, "...No."
This is really bad; it's like stirring up a hornet's nest.
"Wow! Someone so outstanding still doesn't have a boyfriend?"
"My daughter just graduated with a master's degree and works at a bank. She's very beautiful. Would you like to get to know her?"
"My nephew is a doctor, he has a really good personality, and he's an Omega, so he'd be a perfect match for you..."
The aunties instantly forgot about square dancing and enthusiastically surrounded the group, chattering away as they began to introduce the activity.
Startled by this sudden "siege," Meng Yihe retreated step by step, her brows furrowed. Her usual coldness and sharp tongue were completely useless at this moment, leaving only embarrassment and awkwardness.
Just as he was wondering how to get out of the situation, the image of being misunderstood by the photographer in Haicheng suddenly flashed through his mind, along with Cui Yu's ambiguous smile and his casual admission.
An absurd yet potentially extricating thought popped into my head.
He took a deep breath, trying to make his expression look natural, and interrupted the aunties: "Thank you for your kindness, but actually..."
He paused, as if he found it difficult to speak, but finally said it.
"I have a stable relationship with someone, but it's not convenient to go public with it right now."
The aunties immediately showed expressions of disappointment and curiosity.
"Oh? You've got one? Which family's daughter is she? What does she do?"
Meng Yihe felt her ears burning, but she forced herself to remain calm.
"...It's not a young lady, it's...a gentleman. We have a very good relationship and don't want to be disturbed."
After saying that, he didn't dare to look at the aunties' reactions anymore. He quickly made up an excuse that he needed to deal with some work and left the scene almost as if he were fleeing.
Back in the car, Meng Yihe finally let out a long sigh of relief. He felt like he had fought a battle even more exhausting than the board meeting defense. He loosened his tie, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
They were actually forced to use this excuse to get away.
However, this method of turning the tables on someone might be quite effective?
He even started to wonder what Cui Yu's expression would be if he knew that he had used him as a "shield".
The image of Cui Yu upon hearing this flashed through my mind: first, his signature raised eyebrow, followed by a knowing, yet undeniably mocking, smirk. Perhaps he'd even drawl out that meaningful tone, "Oh? So President Meng... already had feelings for me?"
Just imagining it made Meng Yihe feel a strange flush and his heart race, and he even felt a little itchy. He could almost foresee how the other party would use this to their advantage and tease him endlessly.
He was secretly annoyed at his miscalculation.
But his thoughts didn't stop there. After the old lady's questioning, they drifted to a field he would never normally venture into.
About marriage, about the future.
As a top-tier Alpha, Meng Yihe had no shortage of Omegas who showed interest in him during his school years, and even some daring Betas.
He has experienced love letters, gifts, and even direct confessions of love.
But Meng Yihe had always scoffed at this, believing that relationships were inefficient and unnecessary trouble. He devoted himself entirely to his studies, wanting to carve out his own niche in the world.
Behind this almost obsessive independence and strength lies the heavy expectations of the family and the pressure of taking a desperate gamble.
Meng Yihe's father is an ordinary Alpha, and her mother is an Omega.
Meng Yihe inherited relatively superior genes and became a top-tier Alpha.
However, his parents' social status was only that of a small intellectual family. Because of this, Meng Yihe's top-tier Alpha talent became the family's only hope for upward social mobility. His parents bet all their resources, efforts, and unfulfilled dreams on him.
From a young age, what he heard most often was:
"You are different from others."
"You must strive to be better."
"Don't waste your talent."
...
Love exists, but its expression is exceptionally harsh, anxious, and even utilitarian. Every differentiation assessment and every exam score is seen as a stepping stone to "success." Happy childhood play is a luxury; instead, there is an overwhelming burden of learning and training. Expressing emotions is seen as weakness and distraction, and any interests unrelated to the "right path" are guided or forced to be directed in a "useful" direction.
They lifted him up with all their might, but at the same time they placed heavy shackles on him.
marriage?
On that narrow, pre-planned road to "success," this is something that requires careful planning.
He vaguely knew that his parents' ideal partner would be an Omega from a privileged background who could greatly benefit his career, allowing him to establish himself more quickly and fulfill his family's expectations.
Over time, he buried all his emotional needs deep in his heart.
Arming themselves with a cold, hard shell and sharp words, they devote all their energy to improving their quantifiable and recognized abilities. It's as if only by constantly climbing upwards and achieving tangible results can they repay that suffocating expectation and truly take control of their own destiny.
He successfully became the person his parents had hoped for: strong, independent, and exceptionally capable. But he also grew accustomed to loneliness, and even subconsciously avoided anything that might lead to emotional entanglement, using his sharp tongue and indifference to push away anyone who tried to get close.
He seems to have accepted the possibility of a marriage based on mutual benefit someday, after all, top-tier Alphas are quite rare.
But what if it's not a transaction of interests?
If it's someone you choose yourself, someone like Cui Yu—strong, intelligent, someone you can keep pace with even in arguments, and someone who can even help you when you're in trouble…
His thoughts dangerously drifted back to that name, and Meng Yihe clenched his fingers tightly. He forced himself to break free from this dangerous association, took a deep breath, and refocused his gaze on the flowing city lights outside the window.
What is he thinking? Why did his thoughts about marriage lead him to an Alpha?
Now is not the time to think about these things.
The "Spark Program" cannot afford to fail; he must succeed.
The car stopped downstairs at the company. Meng Yihe took a deep breath, completely clearing his mind of the chaotic and inappropriate thoughts that had just crossed his mind. He opened the car door, the cold night wind invigorating him, and his eyes regained their sharpness and focus. He strode into the office building and went straight to the project team's central office area. Even though it was night, the lights were still on.
Everyone's faces showed fatigue, but even more so, focus.
Meng Yihe's appearance caused the atmosphere to freeze for a moment.
He glanced at everyone, said nothing, walked directly to the whiteboard, picked up a pen, and said, "The initial communication with the residents' representatives went smoothly, and they have no objections to the revised plan. But now is not the time to relax."
His voice was calm and composed, as if the turmoil that had just occurred in the car had never happened.
"Lin Xueyue, I need to see the list of alternative brands and the preliminary evaluation report by tomorrow morning."
“Xu Rui, the core narrative needs to be fine-tuned based on the new anchor tenant candidate plan to ensure that the storyline remains coherent and engaging.”
"Wu Hao, the cost model needs to be updated immediately based on the adjustment plan we just determined. I need to see the new cash flow forecast by noon tomorrow at the latest."
"Gao Yuan, adjust the visual scheme accordingly."
"Zhao Lei, please coordinate this. I need to meet with Director Cui tomorrow afternoon to synchronize progress and determine the priority of the next resource application."
His instructions were clear, swift, and unquestionable. He was as efficient and even demanding as ever, yet miraculously, he helped the previously overwhelmed team regain their focus and direction.
"receive!"
The team members immediately responded and returned to the battle.
Meng Yihe himself went to the computer and began processing the backlog of emails and documents that required his final approval. He poured all his energy into his work, filling his mind with countless details awaiting decision-making, allowing no further distraction.
The office area was once again filled with the sounds of keyboards clicking, rapid discussions, and whiteboard writing; a sense of focused tension dispelled the previous gloom.
Just as dawn was breaking, a suppressed gasp came from the strategic department.
It's Xu Rui.
He practically sprang from his chair, tablet in hand, and strode over to Meng Yihe. His eyes were bloodshot from excitement and lack of sleep, yet they shone with an astonishing brightness.
“Director Meng! A domestic independent designer brand aggregation platform has given an initial response! They are very interested in our proposed concept of a ‘local culture incubator’, believing that it is highly consistent with their brand image! Although their brand awareness is not as high as the previous one, their style is more unique and their cooperation model is more flexible.”
"Most importantly—their founder is willing to fly in tomorrow for a face-to-face meeting!"
This news was like a ray of dawn, instantly illuminating the gloom of sluggish investment attraction.
Meng Yihe took the tablet and quickly browsed the other party's brand information and initial feedback, her eyes focused and her fingertips swiping rapidly across the screen.
"Lin Xueyue." Without looking up, he said, "I need all the public and private sales data, user reviews, and supply chain background of this brand on my desk within two hours."
"Gao Yuan, adjust the meeting materials for tomorrow afternoon, and add the brand's tone analysis and visual concept that integrates with our project, emphasizing 'uniqueness' and 'co-creation'."
"yes!"
Lin Xueyue and Gao Yuan immediately responded and threw themselves into the new battle.
This unexpected good news greatly boosted morale.
Progress was also reported from the operations department. Wu Hao and Zhao Lei, working together, through difficult negotiations with multiple suppliers and redesigning the procurement plan, finally brought the cost of structural reinforcement within an acceptable range.
The following afternoon, Cui Yu appeared in the conference room on time.
He also had faint dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating that he had also been through a fierce battle last night.
Without any pleasantries, Meng Yihe immediately began discussing the progress. He succinctly introduced the new brand's opportunities and initial assessment, showcasing the new plan after cost control. Cui Yu listened intently, her fingers unconsciously twirling her pen.
“I’ve looked at the data for this platform.” After Meng Yihe finished speaking, Cui Yu said, “Its style is indeed unique, but its sales fluctuate greatly, and its ability to withstand risks is questionable. We need a more detailed background check on their financial health, as well as a clear and specific estimate of how much high-quality customer traffic they can bring us.”
His gaze fell on Lin Xueyue and Zhao Lei, who immediately nodded and took notes.
"The cost control is quite good."
He then looked at Wu Hao.
"But the pressure of the construction period is still very high. The new reinforcement plan needs to be confirmed with the construction team to see if it can be completed on time within the budget. I need a definite guarantee, not an optimistic estimate."
Based on common goals, we identify and address shortcomings and manage risks.
"Lin Xueyue and Zhao Lei will collaborate on the background check and data projection. Give me the results by noon tomorrow. As for the construction schedule, Wu Hao, contact the person in charge of the construction company now. I need him and his technical team to go online for a meeting within an hour to confirm."
A series of task assignments.
The team's growth was evident throughout this process.
Lin Xueyue and Zhao Lei, originally assistants from different departments, are now able to collaborate seamlessly and quickly share data and information. Wu Hao is no longer just focused on data models but has begun to proactively consider the feasibility of technical implementation. Xu Rui, while maintaining artistic integrity, has also begun to accept the market risk considerations raised by Shen Xinyi. Gao Yuan's visual solutions not only reflect creativity but also begin to incorporate cost data provided by Wu Hao and risk warnings from Shen Xinyi.
They were still overwhelmed by the high demands and tight deadlines of the two directors, and occasionally complained in private. But more than anything, they felt a sense of growth after being pushed to their limits and an excitement about pursuing a grand goal together.
They began to truly understand the project and were proud of it.
As the meeting ended, Cui Yu closed her notebook and looked at Meng Yihe: "Director Meng, let's keep up the good work."
Meng Yihe paused for a moment as she tidied up the documents.
"Um."
Cui Yu chuckled lightly, said nothing more, and left the conference room first.
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