six
Quite good. Li Xintong did not want to continue feeling anxious and trembling; she only wished to end this dinner gathering. However, she knew that this was just the beginning.
Li Xintong, disregarding Eva's increasingly poor complexion beside her, continued to promote her own products. This decision had been weighed repeatedly by her. Eva only facilitated connections once; this time, she was bound to fail, and she would have no further interactions with Eva in the future. What did it matter if she offended her?
"What’s wrong? Did I disappoint you?" Mai Yingqi said jokingly, seeing Li Xintong's expression of such astonishment
Song Zimo did not expect Li Xintong to "recognize" him, and a few traces of confusion and restraint appeared on his handsome face. He did not respond to her, his attractive brows deeply furrowed, as he quietly gazed at her, carrying an emotion that others could not discern. Instead, it was Jia Ling beside him who smiled gracefully and said, "Is it Tongtong?"
Susan had never met Song Zimo, yet the name "Song Zimo" was already well-known to her. No woman loved a man named Song Zimo as much as Li Xintong did. Li Xintong loved Song Zimo with a passion, with an obsession, with a stubbornness that made her forget to love herself.
Eva looked at the two with their awkward expressions, sipped her red wine, and teasingly asked, "Were you two very close before?"
Just with this one sentence, the atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point. Li Xintong was afraid that Eva and Mai Yingqi would overthink, so she jokingly said: "I am Senior Song's creditor; I lent him quite a bit of money during university. Later, he ran off abroad to be with Sister Lingke, leaving me with a mountain of debt, and we lost contact. Senior Song, please don't look so serious; I won't come to collect the debt from you, and it's not much money anyway." To outsiders, this sounded like a joke, but to those involved, it was a subtle mockery. Senior Song, please don't look so serious; I won't come to collect the debt from you, and it's not much money anyway. To outsiders, this sounded like a joke, but to those involved, it was a subtle mockery.
There is one thing he knows: their relationship is not as indifferent as she claims; they have a story.
Li Xintong chuckled awkwardly a couple of times, feeling somewhat embarrassed
The lunch break was not long. After the contract was signed, they chatted for a few moments before dispersing. Li Xintong insisted on paying the bill, so she was the last to leave. She carefully held the freshly signed contract, her eyes shining with excitement, as if those few sheets of paper had transformed into two hundred thousand. A surge of emotion welled up within her, nearly bringing her to tears
Mr. Mai received a notice to attend a meeting at the last minute. He has a flight to Chicago at 6:30 PM today and is now about to board.
"If I secure this contract, I will receive 200,000, which is enough to cover my father's medical expenses for three months. During these three months, I will be able to catch my breath." Li Xintong smiled radiantly, her eyes narrowing into crescent shapes, and the dimples at the corners of her mouth deepening, as if her brilliant smile had made the sunlight shine even brighter.
Song Zimo's departure seemed unrelated to her, as Li Xintong looked at Mai Yingqi with ignorance and confusion. Mai Yingqi said apologetically: "Allen is quite busy, please understand"
Song Zimo knew that this dinner party was set up by Eva to introduce a girlfriend to Mai Yingqi. He initially did not want to get involved, but unfortunately, Ling Ke was a close friend of Eva, and Eva's invitation was hard to decline. However, he never expected that the special girl mentioned by Eva would actually be Li Xintong
Li Xintong looked somewhat dejected as she watched Secretary Lin Xiaowan abandon her, and then she observed the other secretaries from the president's office leaving one by one. When the people had all departed, Li Xintong finally dared to look straight at the corridor ahead. The third room on the right after going straight has two hundred thousand, but upon turning around, there was nothing left.
Li Xintong smiled at Song Zimo and greeted him casually, "Senior Song, do you still remember me?"
"You can multiply it by several thousand times now, I don't think Allen would mind either." Mai Yingqi also stepped in to mediate. As clever as he was, he understood his partner Song Zimo too well; he invested very little emotion into things and did not overly focus on anything. Yet, he was attentively observing the woman across from him, the emotions involved were something he could not comprehend.
Our company has always been this way
During the subsequent meal, Li Xintong did not wish to display her feminine charm. Regardless of the fact that Mai Yingqi was associated with Song Zimo, even if he were a rare golden opportunity, Li Xintong had no intention of pursuing him. Personal matters are personal, and public matters are public; she could not afford to waste this opportunity. Li Xintong began to subtly praise the jade products of her company, skillfully steering the conversation towards the decoration of Mai Yingqi's new company, and smoothly transitioning to discussions of collaboration
Li Xintong tapped her foot at the entrance of A09, feeling somewhat nervous as she took a deep breath. She raised her hand to knock on the door; with her other hand, she turned the doorknob and opened the door with a smile.
She took a deep breath, turned the handle, opened the door, and walked in with a smile
Is it not possible?" Mai Yingqi retorted
Allen is quite handsome, even surpassing Ma Yingqi. Oh dear, you wouldn't have taken a liking to Allen, would you? He is divorced, and it seems he has a good relationship with his ex-wife, so it must have been a momentary impulse that led to the divorce. You should really not think about it...
Heh. "Mai Yingqi smiled and said, 'Then you can bring it over.'"
Mr. Mai, I am Li Xintong. I have prepared one hundred styles of jade carvings for you. When are you available? I will bring them over for you to select.
Hello, I am Li Xintong from Huashi Jewelry. Mr. Mai has ordered two jade carvings from Huashi, and the designs are ready. Could you please let Mr. Mai know when he is available to take a look?
Now? Li Xintong was somewhat surprised. There were still half an hour until the end of work. If she hurried over now, it would still take forty-five minutes.
After a while, the voice of Mai Yingqi came through the phone: "Hello"
So decisively distancing themselves from their relationship. Song Zimo furrowed his brow slightly, his deep-set eyes stubbornly fixed on her. Sitting next to him, Jia Ling offered him a piece of iron plate beef: "The beef in this restaurant is all air-freighted from the United States, it should suit your taste"
Li Xintong did not want to see Song Zimo, but she could not go against Qian.
Please wait
Li Xintong immediately put on the most beautiful smile she had practiced countless times in front of the mirror: "Mr. Mai said to smile, I just feel that the world is truly small, having encountered an old friend here"
Ah? Li Xintong felt somewhat at a loss
Tong Tong? Li Xintong chuckled coldly for a moment in her heart, but wore a cheerful smile on her face: "Sister Ling Ke, long time no see"
During the entire dinner gathering, the one who spoke the most was Mai Yingqi, followed by Eva. Li Xintong, who is usually eloquent, tried to cooperate but mostly just chimed in. Once the delicacies were served, Li Xintong seemed to find her focus, shifting her attention to the food, and her mood lightened as well, making her conversation much more natural.
Holding a signature pen in his hand, Mai Yingqi looked at Li Xintong with a helpless expression: "Miss Li, if you are considering changing jobs, you can come to me. My company is in need of a diligent employee like you who works hard to earn money for the company"
Of course. Li Xintong was somewhat excited; she knew that the bosses of large companies typically required one to two days for appointments, and matters that were not particularly important, like hers, would be postponed as much as possible, often up to a week, and at least four to five days. Li Xintong seemed to see 200,000 waving at her.
Li Xintong pouted and snatched the contract from Susan's hands: "You don't understand, Mr. Mai and I can never be together"
Did he say it clearly? Or do you, with your superficial standards, think he is not handsome enough? Susan glared with her bulging eyes, her tone already approaching a shout
Song Zimo stood up, picked up the suit jacket hanging on the back of the chair, and said, "I will return to the company first." He then left without looking back
Li Xintong paused for a moment, deliberated for a while, and appeared somewhat troubled on her face
Li Xintong neatly folded the contract and placed it in her bag. Then, with a nonchalant smile, she pinched the already stiff-faced Susan's cheek and reassured her, "Don't worry, I am older now and won't act like I used to, crying, throwing tantrums, or threatening to hang myself to win his love. I know that love that is forced does not yield good results."
Gritting her teeth, Li Xintong bravely walked straight and turned right, arriving at the third room, and raised her hand to knock on the door
I am.
"Miss Li, the spicy crab here is quite good." Mai Yingqi gestured towards the newly served spicy crab and smiled warmly at Li Xintong
"Old friend?" Eva and Mai Yingqi questioned almost in unison
Li Xintong replied while eating with great interest: "No, Senior Song must have mistaken the person."
Before Susan could finish her persuasion, Li Xintong calmly raised her eyes and said: "Allen is Song Zimo"
How could you do this? You have a golden opportunity right in front of you, yet you offend a whole bunch of people just for this contract that will only earn you a small commission?" Susan glared at Li Xintong with a look of disappointment. Susan knew very well that her cousin was not a fool, but this time, it was evident to everyone how foolish her actions were.
Hello, Office of the President of Dongyue Group
Susan compassionately cradled Li Xintong's face, whispering comfortingly: "Xintong."
Jia Ling smiled faintly and said: "It has been a long time since we last met. How have you been these past few years?"
Li Xintong, meeting the expectations of many, secured this contract, leaving her colleagues feeling both happy and sad. The happiness stemmed from the fact that there would be no salary deductions; the sadness arose from the realization that this lucrative opportunity was not theirs. The larger the order, the heavier the responsibilities. Selecting the jade ornament styles was the first step. Mai Yingqi signed for two large jade sculptures, one to be placed in the company’s main hall and the other in the president's office. Li Xintong needed to prepare a variety of styles to print out for Mai Yingqi to choose from. Eager to receive her commission, Li Xintong worked with great efficiency, printing nearly one hundred styles by the afternoon, without pausing, and scheduled an appointment with Mai Yingqi.
Li Xintong hurriedly introduced herself: "I am Li Xintong from Huashi Jewelry, and I have an appointment with General Mai."
... ...
Suddenly, someone snatched the contract from her hand. Li Xintong looked up in terror and saw the furious Susan
"Please come in." From within the room, the magnetic voice she had once been most enamored with echoed.
When Li Xintong arrived at the president's office of Dongyue Group, the secretaries in the president's office were packing up their bags, preparing to leave for the day. Li Xintong approached a familiar-looking secretary and asked, "Which one is Secretary Lin Xiaowan?"
"Zimo." Jia Ling apologetically nodded to a few people present and chased after him
Do you know who his collaborator is
Mai Yingqi's smile was somewhat stiff, but Li Xintong suddenly picked up a piece of spicy crab and started eating. Eva asked, "Aren't you allergic to crabs?"
It has been said that encountering an old friend unexpectedly is fate. So, when one unexpectedly meets someone who was once deeply loved yet also caused the most pain, is it not a karmic bond? From the moment Song Zimo failed to keep his promise and did not return, Li Xintong began to think, Never ever meet again. But how is it that after merely five years, they meet once more?
It has been a long time since Susan has seen her cousin with such a relaxed smile. In a life filled with despair yet unable to give up, being able to smile once is a rare luxury
"So efficient?" Mai Yingqi was somewhat surprised
When the contract between Li Xintong and Mai Yingqi was signed on the spot, Eva gave a thumbs up: "Miss Li's dedication is truly admirable"
"Song Zimo? That's a nice Chinese name." Susan was momentarily taken aback. When Li Xintong repeated Song Zimo's name, her mind suddenly went blank, and she stared at her in disbelief with her mouth agape, "Song Zimo! The one you had a crush on for three years, pursued for three years, were together for a year, and then he ended up with an older woman who is eight years his senior, that Song Zimo?"
Mr. Mai instructed that if Miss Li arrives, she may find President Allen, who has already made the necessary arrangements. Proceed straight and turn right; the third room is the one.
She is allergic to crabs and cannot eat them. Song Zimo did not look at her, yet he stated a fact about her with great certainty.