They went into the restaurant.
Xiao Linye turned to make a phone call while Ye Yuning ordered the food.
By the time the dishes arrived, Xiao Linye had finished his call and returned, his expression back to normal.
However, Ye Yuning’s phone then rang. It was from Chen Wei. She immediately hung up without answering.
Soon after, a message came in. Ye Yuning opened it and saw Chen Wei had sent, "Boss, the CEO’s office at Xiao’s says they want you to personally handle the Nanjia Peak design."
Ye Yuning raised an eyebrow, instinctively glancing at Xiao Linye across from her.
Xiao Linye also looked up at her. The moment their eyes met, Ye Yuning’s heart gave a little flutter.
She had just told Xiao Linye that she’d assigned the Nanjia Peak project to Ma Di. And now Chen Wei was sending this message? Was this information passed to Xiao’s CEO’s office by Xiao Linye?
Ye Yuning felt a pang in her heart but quickly suppressed the strange feeling, replying to Chen Wei, "Let’s talk when I get back."
After sending the message, she put down her phone.
Picking up the water glass in front of her, she took a sip. She wanted to ask Xiao Linye but didn’t know how to begin.
Xiao Linye didn’t seem to notice her preoccupation.
He placed a chicken foot into Ye Yuning’s small bowl. "This dish is quite good."
"I like it," Xiao Linye nodded.
Watching his satisfied expression, Ye Yuning felt somewhat conflicted.
She felt she had been too quick to concede the Nanjia Peak project to Xiao’s just to please him. They had just signed the contract, and that overbearing Seventh Master was already making demands. During the collaboration, how many more tricks would he play? The five-million-yuan design fee seemed to make everything else excusable, but with trouble brewing right from the start, she was genuinely a bit apprehensive.
Seeing her suddenly become silent, Xiao Linye raised his eyebrows. "What are you thinking about? You’re not even focused on eating."
His sudden question almost made Ye Yuning choke on her food.
She quickly collected herself and then looked at Xiao Linye. "Um, what’s he like, your Seventh Master?"
"Why ask so suddenly?"
"It’s nothing! Just asking casually." Ye Yuning shook her head.
She couldn’t possibly admit that she had just received Chen Wei’s message indicating Xiao’s wanted to change the designer, could she? The designers at Manlang were all top-notch; Xiao’s was just being excessively picky. Other partners let her handle the arrangements, but Xiao’s had actually specifically requested her. What was their deal? Were they planning to buy her along with her services for that five million yuan? They hadn’t even officially begun the collaboration, and Ye Yuning was already feeling disgruntled with that Seventh Master Xiao.
Xiao Linye picked up the wine glass in front of him, glanced at Ye Yuning, and said, "He’s a decent person."
He was evaluating himself—that assessment couldn’t be wrong, could it? He neither exploited his employees nor neglected their welfare; indeed, he was a decent man.
However, hearing this, Ye Yuning’s eyelids twitched.
"A decent person?" Was he serious?
Xiao Linye nodded. "You might have misunderstood him. He really is a decent person."
At that moment, Xiao Linye wanted to change Ye Yuning’s impression of him.
But Ye Yuning just stared at him blankly, evidently still affected by a lingering negative impression, leaving her completely disbelieving.
Xiao Linye felt a headache coming on, almost wishing he could tear Xiao Shuo into pieces.
"Are you serious?" Ye Yuning asked dully after a moment.
Xiao Linye hummed in affirmation. "Indeed. You’ve never met him. You’ll understand once you do."
"I wouldn’t lie to you!"
Ye Yuning was speechless. Hearing this, her breath hitched! Could it be that she really misunderstood that Seventh Master Xiao? Otherwise, her usually reserved husband wouldn’t speak out to defend someone. He wasn’t one to flatter, but he clearly wouldn’t lie either. He had been very serious when he said those things.
Having come to this realization, she blurted out, "Then I’ll go meet him tomorrow!"
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized she’d slipped up again!
Sure enough, Xiao Linye, across from her, raised an eyebrow. "You’ll meet him tomorrow?"
Ye Yuning was speechless again. Could she take those words back now?
Xiao Linye scrutinized her with a deep gaze, not missing the slightest flicker of emotion on her face.
Ye Yuning chuckled awkwardly. "Ah, um, I didn’t mean..."
"I mean, my boss will definitely want to personally meet this Seventh Master Xiao, and I’ll accompany her."
In her panic, Ye Yuning had hastily concocted an excuse. It sounded plausible enough, though. For a five-million-yuan collaboration, it was perfectly reasonable for the boss to personally meet Seventh Master Xiao. However, judging by Xiao Linye’s unwavering, deep gaze, he clearly wasn’t convinced.