The third session, who taught me to become a bad woman
Sang Ni stuck out her tongue, and Yang Yingtao said firmly: "We believe that we will definitely pass."
Xie Fang patted Yang Yingtao on the shoulder and said, "I have no issues, the key is that the developer is satisfied. OK, it's time to get off work! The last one to leave, remember to lock the door well"
"If your design does not pass, let me make it clear in advance that I will stay awake to get the draft out," Xie Fang said with a smile, threatening the two.
Su Yao endured the pain, remaining motionless as he vented: "Yes, you will buy a house and a car, but that has nothing to do with me. We have already broken up, do you understand?"
The manager's office is quiet; it is estimated that Manager Zhu is hard at work! Yang Yingtao stood up and stretched, asking, "What to eat? Are you an idiot?"
She sniffed, blinked her eyes, and sent the surging tears back to the depths of her heart
January 1, 2008, marks the joyous occasion of President Lu's wedding, and all employees of the Shengfang organization will be present. When this matter was mentioned, a hint of tenderness appeared on President Lu's serious face: "By the way, I forgot to tell you, let's go try on the best man's suit together another day."
In this moment, the lounge was as still as a lake, the silence extending to the adjacent restroom, causing Xie Fang to feel inexplicably tense. After a moment, the sound of high heels clicking echoed, perhaps indicating that Su Yao had left the lounge
Su Yao silently pleaded in her heart: Do not be so kind to me, do not... She quietly glanced at him, then averted her gaze to look elsewhere: "The company ordered takeout, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave now"
Su Yao seemed to sense a slight tremor in the floor between the second and third levels
Xie Fang nodded slightly: "The plan includes a commercial area of around 20,000 to 30,000 square meters. Xiao Liu, you are responsible for investigating the surrounding commercial properties, focusing on the selling prices and rental rates, as well as the width and depth of the street-facing shops; Lao Wang, you are in charge of the residential properties in the surrounding area and the southern part of the city, with an emphasis on price and sales analysis, and you also need to identify the market proportions of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units. Lao Wang and Xiao Liu, you must submit the market research data and reports to the planning department by the end of work next Tuesday, OK?" Lao Wang and Xiao Liu, you must submit the market research data and reports to the planning department by the end of work next Tuesday, OK?"
Xie Fang said: "Rest assured, during this period, you should worry less and focus on being your new groom!"
They are cousins, and it is already an open secret that they have dozens of employees in the flourishing organization. As soon as Xie Fang heard his mother, he immediately changed his tone and readily said: "Isn't it just being a groomsman? As long as you give me the right to choose the bridesmaid, I will make this sacrifice once."
The cold wind howled fiercely, and Su Yao's long hair, cascading down, danced in the breeze, obscuring her profile. She steeled herself and looked at him cruelly: "Asong, you are a wonderful person, thank you for taking care of me over the past year, but... I do not love you enough, so I will not marry you... I hope you understand"
Perhaps, this is a form of selfishness
"Oh, it's nothing, you can go first!" This was the voice of Zhu Jianfeng, lacking in energy, as he sighed heavily
Having spoken, she turned and left, the hem of her coat flapping violently, the cold wind howling as if to whip her cruelty and hypocrisy
Zhu Jianfeng said without hesitation: "Su Yao and Ouyang Lanlan completed it together"
Gao Yisong stood in place, watching her silhouette gradually fade away, merging into the dim yellow light, disappearing from his life and existence. In that moment, he felt a complex intertwining of love and hate for her
Su Yao blurted out a line often heard in TV dramas: "I'm sorry, don't look for me anymore, work hard, earn money well, and you will find a girl who loves you wholeheartedly"
She opened her eyes and felt that the computer screen on her desk was covered with a layer of mist, and her eyes felt a bit sore... She suddenly stood up, putting on her coat while shouting towards the manager's office: "Manager, I'm leaving first"
Su Yao stopped, turned her back to him, and calmly said: "Yes, I am very busy, and I hope you will not call me again, nor seek me out."
Mr. Lu squinted his eyes, and a glimmer of surprise seemed to flash in his keen gaze: "This matter... you should consult my wife. If the bridesmaid you are requesting is to be Ms. Cha, who will accompany you for a lifetime, I believe my wife would agree."
"Su Yao!" Zhu Jianfeng called out, and the sound of high heels suddenly came to a halt; he paused for a moment and then said, "Su Yao, do you think... that nowadays, girls all want to find a boyfriend who has a house and a car before they would consider marriage?"
They have truly broken up; she feels bitter, sad, and even heartbroken. However, there is also a hint of secret relief and ease.
Su Yao threw her bag onto the sofa, calming the intense beating of her heart in her chest. She sat down anxiously, forcing a nonchalant expression on her face—though in reality, she was very nervous, worried that he would be angry for her not returning early to prepare dinner, as he had always demanded that employees possess a strong sense of time.
Su Yao, you say!" Xie Fang spoke simultaneously, his voice short and forceful, casting an annoyed glance at Zhu Jianfeng, his gaze burning as he looked at Su Yao, who was seated third on the left
Uh... the manager of the planning department, Zhu Jianfeng, looked at the base map and slowly began to speak
In the entire company, only Su Yao works comfortably with a cushion. She said to Manager Zhu, "My history of shoulder periarthritis is longer than my history in real estate. We should show some respect for shoulder periarthritis, shouldn't we? Otherwise, if I sit up straight for ten minutes, I won't be able to work—I'll be in so much pain that I can't breathe.
Su Yao occasionally tapped the keyboard with a rhythmic "tick-tock," sometimes pausing to think, and at other times gazing blankly ahead... Ouyang Lanlan heavily struck the Enter key, opened her arms, and cried out in agony: "Damn, it's already six o'clock. No wonder my stomach is growling. Su Yao, it's time to call for dinner."
The current situation of this project near the train station is as follows; we will need to wait for the developer and the architectural design institute to provide more detailed information. If there is anything unclear, please ask now. Xie Fang sat facing south, with both elbows resting on the conference table, smiling at his subordinates, his gaze sharp as if it could penetrate the foreheads of everyone present.
Old Wang from the Market Research Department responded: "Does this project include street-level commercial space? The foot traffic near the train station is considerable, and planning for a medium-sized and tiered commercial area to meet the daily living needs of the community should be feasible"
"You don't have to work overtime tonight, go back and rest!" Xie Fang said with a serious expression, yet there was an unmistakable hint of amusement in the corners of his eyes. His gaze seemed to casually sweep over Su Yao, as if containing a powerful energy ready to erupt. Coincidentally, Su Yao looked over and felt that such a gaze concealed great danger, so she quickly averted her eyes.
Su Yao forced a smile and politely took a spoonful of soup, saying, "Very good, General Manager Xie is indeed remarkable"
General Lu raised an eyebrow and smiled, his voice elongated: "This is an order! An order from your aunt! In other words... it is an order from your mother!"
Su Yao quickly declined: "I don't want to eat bento anymore; I got tired of it a hundred years ago"
Perhaps it was simply out of affection that I left him; perhaps it was because I did not want to be a burden that I chose to part ways with him
"Yay! Hooray!" The crowd cheered, Sunny jumped up excitedly, dancing with joy, while Yang Yingtao clenched his fists, gritting his teeth and smiling.
Zhu Jianfeng shook his head and walked into the manager's office. The others swiftly turned off their computers and packed their personal belongings as if they had received a pardon, hurriedly evacuating the scene of their efforts. Su Yao, however, leisurely tidied up, knowing that in a moment, her phone would ring.
Her love for him
The elites nodded repeatedly. Upon hearing this, Su Yao secretly let out a long breath, having narrowly escaped a barrage—on several occasions in the past, the girls from the real estate department had been bombarded by General Xie to the point of crying uncontrollably, and two years ago, a girl even resigned in anger. This illustrates just how devastating General Xie's tirades could be. However, over the past year, his temper has improved somewhat, and he rarely loses his temper in the conference room anymore
Who taught her to become a bad woman? Perhaps no one did; it was her own reason, her own reason that taught her to heartlessly leave the man she did not love at all
"Manager, I cannot answer you; I can only say that some women are like this," Su Yao replied gently
She only eats quietly, with a ladylike posture
Is it right or wrong? She does not know and does not want to think about this question any further
Suddenly, the voices of a man and a woman came from the break room next door
As expected, the familiar tune of "Ambiguity" rang from her phone. She answered the call and heard a familiar opening line: "This is Xie Fang. You don't need to buy groceries when you get home to cook; I have already bought them."
Xie looked around with bright eyes and said, "Today is the 14th, and the proposals must be completed by the 24th, including the hardcover printing. We have less than ten days, and time is extremely tight. Everyone needs to muster 200% of their spirit to tackle this battle." He continued to assign tasks, "Xiao Yang and Xiao Du, you need to design two sets of VI and visual drafts by the end of work on the 22nd. Is there any problem?"
Mr. Lu extinguished his cigarette and looked at him strangely: "Ah Fang, you also own 30% of the shares in Shengfang Organization, you are also a boss. It is essential to care for employees, and efficiency and performance are even more important, but they must always come first."
Su Yao took a deep breath and turned around: "Alright, let's talk over there"
Su Yao felt a tightness in her heart, exchanged a glance with Ouyang Lanlan, and smiled helplessly
Silence. A prolonged silence. The sudden silence made Su Yao even more anxious, not knowing why he suddenly fell silent, yet she did not dare to look at him openly. She could only steal a glance at him, seeing him eat normally, picking up vegetables, and drinking soup, but the smile on his face had vanished in an instant. She furrowed her brows slightly, feeling a bit flustered.
"Manager, your coffee!" It was Su Yao's soft voice, but it suddenly became tense, "Manager... manager... what happened to you?"
The flourishing organization is not located in a skyscraper in the financial center, but rather in a three-story villa within a residential community on Bolu Avenue. The first floor houses the advertising department, the second floor is dedicated to the real estate department, and the third floor contains the offices of the two "CEOs" and a large conference room
Su Yao has not yet responded, so he hung up. ... She closed her eyes, calmly leaning against the back of the chair, yet her heart was a tumult of waves ... . ... He has indeed come.
Su Yao's heart skipped a beat, not expecting him to call her out by name. She inwardly cursed his "despicable" behavior—giving her a powerful warning on the very first day back at work after the holiday. Her mind raced, quickly organizing the most appropriate words. She raised her face, doing her utmost to maintain a calm demeanor: "Regarding this project, I believe everyone has a general understanding. There is one point I would like to ask: the surrounding environment of the train station is quite poor, with a mix of people, including a considerable number of migrant workers. It can be said that both the external environment and the quality of the population leave much to be desired. Therefore, what level and direction should the product positioning and image promotion of this project aim for?"
Yang Yingtao and Sunny replied in unison: "No problem!"
Xie Fang also said in Taiwanese: "It will end soon, after the meeting I will go to your office"
Returning home, it was already past 7 o'clock, yet Xie Fang was sitting at the dining table eating, with three dishes and a soup. Opposite him, a pair of chopsticks and a bowl were set, presumably prepared for her. Hearing the sound, Xie Fang turned around and called out: "Come over and eat, I ordered takeout."
In order to enhance work efficiency, Manager Zhu had no choice but to turn a blind eye to certain matters.
Her voice was weak and appeared innocent: "I will come back earlier in the future"
"Su Yao, is this how you are?" Zhu Jianfeng's question seemed abrupt and pressing
Gao Yisong watched her walk deeper into the community, her slender figure clad in a long black wool coat, which made her appear even more delicate. The hem of the coat, reaching down to her calves, fluttered in the wind like the wings of a black butterfly, flying gracefully. He quickened his pace to catch up and stopped behind her: "Have you been very busy these days?"
Why is he feeling uneasy? He himself does not know why
Su Yao felt that his tears were like a whip fiercely striking her, accusing her of her venomous heart and ingratitude; her heart ached, yet her face was a calm stream flowing gently: "I do not wish to delay you, and I also hope... that we do not delay each other."
On Sunday, as night fell, the orange-red lights flickered against the pitch-black glass windows
After leaving Mr. Lu's office, Xie Fang went straight down to the second floor to head to the restroom. Passing by the door of the planning department's office, he glanced at the unfamiliar desk but could not see the figure of the woman. Feeling somewhat irritated, he squatted on the toilet and casually picked up the newspaper beside him to read, but this only increased his annoyance. Consequently, he crumpled the newspaper into a ball, the rustling sound of the paper was quite jarring.
Xie Fang smiled and said, "As long as everyone works hard, there is nothing that cannot be achieved"
Sunny lamented in despair: "I am exhausted, this weekend has completely gone to waste, and what is even more infuriating is that I feel absolutely nothing. By the way, Su Yao, has the case name been decided? Without a case name, I might as well go home and sleep."
Gao Yisong seemed to hear a sound, suddenly turned around, and upon seeing her, he joyfully ran forward and excitedly said: "Are you off work? You haven't eaten yet, right? What do you want to eat? I'll take you."
At 10:00 AM, in the conference room, the elites of the Real Estate Division were seated around the oval conference table, each displaying a different expression as they listened to the "presentation" given by the head of the Real Estate Division, Xie Fang
Su Yao works at Shengfang Agency, whose owner, Lu Tiansheng, is from Taiwan. At the end of the 20th century, Lu Tiansheng came to Lucheng to seek fortune amidst the wave of Taiwanese business ventures on the mainland, founding Shengfang Advertising. After ten years of trials and tribulations, over three thousand days and nights, and countless challenges, Shengfang Advertising has become a well-known brand in Lucheng, firmly seated on the 'dragon throne' as the leader in the local advertising industry, standing strong for many years. The real estate marketing agency began in 2004, but Lu Tiansheng found himself struggling with real estate marketing. In 2005, he hired a vice president from Taiwan specifically to oversee real estate, who also served as the creative director.
Gao Yisong grasped her wrist, his voice tinged with a hint of anger: "I waited for you for three hours, and you just left like this? You really don't want to see me?"
Su spoke sincerely and calmly: "Asong, please stop talking. I will not marry you"
The two responded loudly: "Alright."
The Executive Vice President and concurrently the Creative Director is Xie Fang
"Before the Spring Festival, we successfully signed the contract for this project. Mr. Xie invites everyone to go swimming in Sanya." A cheerful voice rang out at the door
Although only Su Yao could understand Taiwanese, everyone present knew that if it were not for an urgent matter, Mr. Lu would not personally come to the conference room to look for someone—this indicated that this lengthy meeting was about to conclude, and they were about to be liberated to engage in a terrifying battle
In the past two or three days, Gao Yisong made countless phone calls, from morning till night, calling again and again, undeterred... The next day, Su Yao, unable to bear it any longer, simply turned off her phone, only turning it on during meal times to check for any important calls, yet dozens of missed call notifications flooded in. This frenzied "harassment" continued until just noon today.
She also did not understand why it was like this. Ever since she agreed to the three conditions set by Xie Fang, whether at home or in the office, whenever he appeared, every nerve in her body would reflexively tense up, immediately entering a state of high alert, cautiously dealing with this "smiling tiger".
There is no need to have bento tonight, nor do we need to eat 'fool'. A low, deep voice came from outside the door, and everyone turned around to see Xie Fang walking in with composure. They all looked at him with confusion. Ouyang Lanlan cautiously joked, 'Does Mr. Xie mean to treat us to a grand meal?'
General Lu is so anxious, primarily due to the project proposal near the train station. If things go smoothly, this project will commence in the spring of next year, directly impacting the company's operations and interests, which is why General Lu places great importance on it. He firmly stated: "Afang, no matter what, we must secure this project; if necessary, we will work overtime."
Perhaps it was simply because she liked him that she chose to leave him; perhaps it was because she did not want to burden him that she departed. Over the course of a year, she contemplated breaking up countless times, yet each time, she reminded herself of what a wonderful man he was—handsome, gentle, often cooking to fill her stomach, sharing household chores, and living frugally. He was truly a man well-suited for daily life. To abandon him would mean never having him again. However, in the calm and uneventful routine of life and work, which was peaceful yet monotonous, she always felt that something was missing. Over the course of a year, she contemplated breaking up countless times, yet each time, she reminded herself of what a wonderful man he was—handsome, gentle, often cooking to fill her stomach, sharing household chores, and living frugally. He was truly a man well-suited for daily life. To abandon him would mean never having him again. However, in the calm and uneventful routine of life and work, which was peaceful yet monotonous, she always felt that something was missing
Su Yao's desk is located at the innermost part of the department office, directly facing the manager's office. In the warm and stuffy atmosphere, Jay Chou's "Blue and White Porcelain" is being performed softly and classically. Under the intense fluorescent light, Su Yao is leaning back, with a deep blue square cushion behind her.
"Fool" is the name of a restaurant. The establishment is not large, yet it offers a complete range of dishes including stir-fried dishes, noodles, and rice bowls. It is economical and serves a popular taste, attracting a steady stream of customers. During meal times, patrons can be seen either waiting foolishly for a table at the entrance or waiting foolishly for their takeout to arrive
Xie Fang glanced at Su Yao with a welcoming smile, yet his eyes were sharp as knives, embodying the typical "smiling tiger" demeanor: "Alright! Su Yao, Ouyang, this time it’s up to the two of you. I won’t interfere with how you divide the work, but I expect the proposal to be creative and profound, reflecting the developer's innermost thoughts, understood? There are three companies competing for this project, and if we succeed in securing it, it will be the first successful contract signed next year, which is crucial; if we fail, both of you will face a severe KO from General Lu and me..."
At this critical moment, based on past meeting experiences, Xie Fang is most pleased when his subordinates ask questions. If no one asks, he will call on someone by name. If the person called upon cannot provide even a shred of valuable "insight," they will become the target of his criticism
Xie Fang was taken aback and fixed his gaze on him: "Did I promise you to be the best man? I don't recall doing so..."
Gao Yisong stared at her intently, his eyes shining brightly, unblinking, as if a fierce flame was about to burst forth and consume her.
Mr. Lu has slightly gained weight, dressed in casual attire, a dark gray sweater and light blue jeans, walking down the street, no one can tell that he is the renowned CEO of the flourishing organization. He said in Taiwanese: "Ah Fang, are you not done yet? I have something to discuss with you."
Xie Fang adjusted his expression with vigilance—his cousin in front of him was the top agent of the Shengfang organization, and his only target was him, while the agent's superior was his mother. His face was shrouded in smoke, and he smiled cunningly: "If it means offending my sister-in-law, I think it’s better to avoid that. By the way, currently in the planning department, only Su Yao can independently complete the planning report; she can be considered the backbone of the department. She hasn’t received a raise in over half a year, and I am thinking of giving her a raise of five hundred as a reward. What do you think?" By the way, currently in the planning department, only Su Yao can independently complete the planning report; she can be considered the backbone of the department. She hasn’t received a raise in over half a year, and I am thinking of giving her a raise of five hundred as a reward. What do you think?
Gao Yisong was stunned, wearing a foolish and dazed expression. The hands that held her shoulders slowly fell away, his ten fingers sadly curling up. After a while, his beautiful eyes shimmered with tears: "I will wait for you... don't you remember? We were together, so happy, so joyful, don't you remember?"
General Lu looked at him with a baffled smile, his gaze gradually becoming playful: "You are the Executive Vice President; is it really necessary to report such trivial matters to me? Ah Fang, are you worried that you are abusing your power or engaging in favoritism?"
Zhu Jianfeng walked out of the manager's office, smiling gracefully: "How about the left-side bento?"
For twenty-five years, she had never imagined that one day she would become a hard-hearted bad woman
Gao Yisong shouted in despair: "No, I will not break up! I did not agree..."
Xie Fang set down the dishes and said solemnly: "Su Yao, every coin has two sides, and I believe you are also a coin."
Su Yao said softly, "Alright, I understand."
Xie Fang lazily leaned against the leather chair and smiled, saying: "Which proposal report was not produced after working overtime?"
Zhu Jianfeng responded: "Alright, goodbye! Rest well, and we will continue the fight tomorrow"
Usually, it would just be a few words, but this time, he did not hang up immediately. He seemed to hesitate for a moment and then said: "There is someone waiting for you downstairs... You should go back as soon as possible, I will return later for dinner"
After the meeting, the weekend arrives, yet it is two days of hard work, unrelated to leisure and rest
Su Yao felt a sudden pause in her heart, her mouth full of food, yet she had no choice but to raise her head to look at him, her face filled with confusion
Su Yao sat with a sense of rigor, her head slightly lowered, quietly casting her gaze over the entire room. She observed that some of the promising young individuals were deep in thought, some were jotting down notes, and others were pondering with their heads tilted... The conference room was as silent as a desolate night, the sound of pure water being poured was distinctly audible, and everyone appeared to be in a state of heightened alertness.
As everyone turned around, they saw Mr. Lu standing there with a beaming smile. Old Wang exaggeratedly laughed and said, "This is a promise that is hard to come by; once made, it must be fulfilled. Everyone must remember this commitment and be ready with swimsuits and life rings to go swimming in Sanya."
After a moment of silence, Gao Yisong said firmly and resolutely, "I don't want to break up!" He walked in front of her, held her shoulders, and looked at her earnestly: "I will work hard to earn money. After the Spring Festival, we will buy a house. How about we go house hunting tomorrow?"
Xie Fang leaned back comfortably and looked at Su Yao, revealing a hint of appreciation: "This issue is a matter for your planning department, and your boss will discuss it with you; however, I believe that the total construction area of this project is approximately 250,000 square meters, which is considered a relatively large-scale development in Lucheng. Given the project's inherent geographical shortcomings, we need to break through the established perceptions of homebuyers in terms of product positioning and image." He then turned to Zhu Jianfeng, "Therefore, this project can only focus on mid-to-high-end products and packaging."
Having finished speaking, Lu Tiansheng burst into laughter. Xie Fang also laughed, masking the embarrassment in his eyes and the unease in his heart
Ouyang Lanlan reluctantly interjected: "It is not so easy to come up with a case name, especially one that is impactful, profound, and creative; it requires time."
Su Yao moved the chair away from the desk, angled it at a forty-five-degree direction towards the office door: "It's so late, let's order food, Manager, will you join us for dinner?"
Is it a lack of passion? Or is it a lack of the feeling of "butterflies in the stomach"? Or is it a lack of "love"?
The conference room was air-conditioned, warm as spring. Xie Fang took off his black coat, wearing only a black shirt, which accentuated his bronze complexion that could rival that of Louis Koo, making him appear even darker. At this moment, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he looked at Zhu Jianfeng: "As for the proposal report, Ah Feng, who will write it?"
After speaking, he left the planning department without looking back. Su Yao glanced at his back, sat down heavily in the chair, immediately relaxed, and let out a long breath, as if someone had been choking her throat and suddenly released it, allowing her to breathe desperately.
Upon exiting the stairway, Su Yao saw a tall, thin figure pacing back and forth in the chilling wind. The nearby streetlight cast a dim, bleak glow, and the solitary shadow evoked a deeper sense of sorrow. In that instant, her heart ached slightly, and warm tears welled up in her eyes.
Ouyang Lanlan had a pained expression: "Are you still eating 'fool'? I am about to vomit, how can you still eat it?"
At the right moment, a pure and serene face cut into his mind, so vivid, so startling. He felt somewhat baffled, even absurd; how could he think of her?
For twenty-five years, she had never imagined that one day she would become a cold-hearted bad woman
Gao Yisong became anxious and, in his excitement, increased his grip, causing her pain: "Why? Why... I can earn a lot of money... You want brand-name items, I will buy them for you..."
Xie Fang seemed not to have heard, and continued to mockingly laugh: "This pork rib and winter melon soup is made by me, give it a taste. It's my first time making soup, even if it doesn't taste good, you have to finish it. Otherwise, how about you make the soup next time?"