But Gao Ma is second only to Manlang in Upper City. If even they can’t achieve the desired effect, it would be hard to find anyone better!
Xiao Linye stood up. "Let’s stop here for now."
Lai Shuo nodded, understanding that the initial draft had not passed.
He followed Xiao Linye to the office.
Xiao Linye lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said, "You go to Manlang Studio!"
Lai Shuo was speechless. He knew this would be the outcome! But thinking of the mess Xiao Shuo had caused before, his head ached unbearably! This Second Master of the Xiao Family truly lived up to their notorious reputation in Upper City—engaged to the elder sister yet impregnating the younger one. He was clearly the one at fault but still tried to use his status to pressure them. And frustratingly, Manlang Studio was a partner the Xiao Family could ill afford to lose.
Lai Shuo unconsciously said, "Go see Boss Ye now? With the trouble Third Young Master Xiao Shuo caused right before us, it probably isn’t a good time to talk to Boss Ye, right?"
Upon hearing this, a deep look crossed Xiao Linye’s eyes.
He took another drag of his cigarette and glanced at Lai Shuo, remaining silent.
Lai Shuo felt his scalp tingle from the gaze and then said, "Then I’ll go talk to Boss Ye first!"
He just hoped this woman wouldn’t mix personal feelings with business! Otherwise, their Nanjia Peak project would still be a problem in the short term.
Seeing Xiao Linye remain silent, Lai Shuo quickly arranged his work at hand and headed to Manlang.
When Chen Wei came in to report, Ye Yuning was replying to a message from Xiao Linye on her phone.
The man had asked her if she wanted to have lunch together. Ye Yuning replied, "I’ll just grab a bite at the studio at noon." She really didn’t feel like going out.
Xiao Linye quickly replied, "At the restaurant downstairs from your company."
Since he had put it that way, Ye Yuning felt it wasn’t good to keep refusing. This was indeed rare for him. From what she had heard from Tang Xi, it had always been nothing but bad things about the man. As it turned out, Xiao Linye was actually very patient!
Putting down her phone, she saw Chen Wei standing at the office door. Ye Yuning raised an eyebrow. "What’s up?"
Chen Wei nodded and came in. "Um, Assistant Lai from the Xiao Family is here!"
Ye Yuning raised an eyebrow. Here again!? The scene Ye Tong had made this morning was still fresh in her mind. Now, just hearing the words ’Xiao Family,’ Ye Yuning’s expression soured! Ye Tong was Xiao Shuo’s fiancée, and Xiao Shuo was a member of the Xiao Family! Given this connection, just hearing about someone from the Xiao Family coming to see her made her feel suffocated.
Seeing her silence, Chen Wei added, "The people from Gao Ma Studio went to the Xiao Family today. They probably weren’t chosen."
"Didn’t they say they were going to hold a public selection before? Since it was a public selection, for a large company like the Xiao Family, there would certainly be many people wanting to collaborate! Why were they persistently sticking to her?"
Ye Yuning picked up the cup of water in front of her, took a sip, and cleared her throat. "Just say I’m not here."
Chen Wei was stunned.
Ye Yuning raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Chen Wei said, "He knows you’re here!"
Ye Yuning thought, So this wasn’t going to end easily.
She put down the cup. "Then let him in."
Since it had come to this, she might as well meet him!
Chen Wei nodded and hurried out.
Frankly, there were very few partners like the Xiao Family. Considering that the fee for each previous collaboration wasn’t low, it would indeed be a pity to stop working with them directly. However, the new president had given Ye Yuning a rather poor first impression. Between money and comfort, Ye Yuning always chose the latter. Didn’t this mean she had to painfully give up a major client?
Chen Wei led Lai Shuo into the office. Lai Shuo, like a gentleman, extended his hand to Ye Yuning. "Boss Ye."
Ye Yuning stood up and returned the handshake.
It was only a brief touch before she let go and made a welcoming gesture. "Please, have a seat."
"Thank you, Boss Ye," Lai Shuo said respectfully.
When he had come to fetch Xiao Shuo yesterday, his attention had been entirely on the chaotic scene. He hadn’t noticed this Miss Ye at all. Observing her closely now, Lai Shuo’s first reaction was that she was so small! Small in stature, and young in age. It had to be said, appearances could be deceiving—who would have thought the boss of Upper City’s best Manlang Studio looked like a child?
Chen Wei poured a cup of coffee for Lai Shuo, who nodded and said, "Thank you."
Ye Yuning raised an eyebrow, glanced at Lai Shuo, and stated, "You’re here for the Nanjia Peak project."
"Yes!" Lai Shuo nodded, then continued, "The company still intends for Manlang to handle it."
Lai Shuo got straight to the point, carefully observing Ye Yuning’s expression as he spoke.
Ye Yuning raised an eyebrow at him, her tone casual. "Hand it over to us to handle?"
She was calm, but there was a clear, unreadable meaning in her tone.
Lai Shuo nodded. "Is that possible?"
Ye Yuning looked at Lai Shuo and smiled subtly, not directly answering whether it was possible or not, only saying, "Assistant Lai, you’re really putting us in a tough spot!"