Chapter 4, Competition for Positions

Mei Guohua's eyes shifted, and Mei shivered all over as the strange uncle's smile returned. "The one who should be congratulated is you, my dear girl. The CEO of Dingyi is only twenty-six, and as for his looks—well, your father has never seen anyone so handsome in his life. Plus, he has a wealth of foreign knowledge, oh no, foreign expertise. I have subtly indicated to him that you are still single; it truly is a match made in heaven."

Mei Shimu nodded and said, "Oh, oh, congratulations, Dad"

Mei Shi wanted to speak but held back; although her mother had said so much, she could still sense her mother's expectations regarding this matter

Mei Shi looked at him and unconsciously swallowed.

For safety reasons, the Mei couple decided to keep their rebellious son Mei Yi at home. When Mei Yi encountered his sister, who was dressed up and ready to go out, he was momentarily stunned for two seconds. Mei Shi, very alert, jumped back a step, finally preventing Mei Yi's laughter from splattering his saliva onto her extremely elegant chiffon dress.

Mei Shi looked at the watch and guessed that the foolish alien tycoon would arrive five minutes after the agreed time, then said with a face full of bravado: "I was too busy with work and arrived late." After sitting down, he continued, "Let's start with our educational backgrounds and introduce ourselves."

Me Guohua was once again excited, "Dingyi Group ... ..." He wanted to find a suitable word, and ultimately found one that was very appropriate, "They are really damn rich"

He Jiyun shrank her shoulders under the lewd gaze, but soon came to her senses, straightened her back, raised her head, and with a cold and elegant smile said, "I feel no sense of crisis whatsoever"

Mei Shi's eyes brightened, and she asked without any backbone: "How much money will you give?"

In an effort to avoid making the conversation seem overly formal, Zhao Shuyuan did not sit behind the desk but instead sat on the sofa next to his daughter. "Shishi, do not take this matter lightly; consider it as helping your mother," Zhao Shuyuan said with a bitter smile. "In recent years, the number of people who can help me has been dwindling, your father, Xiao Yi..." His expression revealed a deep sense of fatigue.

Mei Shi nodded and silently walked with her mother to the study. She understood that the truly important conversation was just beginning. Mei Shi couldn't help but shake her head; her father had always been like this, making a fuss and acting like he was the best, but the one who truly made the final decision was still her mother. Zhao Shuyuan was unusually silent today. After closing the door, she even took a deep breath. This solemn attitude was something Mei Shi hadn't seen in a long time

When he first arrived, he was so impressive? Mei Guohua said with a hint of disdain and schadenfreude: "It seemed like he was here to unify the underworld, bringing in all sorts of foreign gimmicks, like overseas management concepts, elite teams, marketing models, but what was the result? None of it works here! He has eaten a few failures, and now he finally gets it, knowing to come to me, Old Mei. To be honest, as long as there is money, is there any project that Old Mei cannot handle?" He has eaten a few failures, and now he finally gets it, knowing to come to me, Old Mei. To be honest, as long as there is money, is there any project that Old Mei cannot handle?

Mom... Mei Shi frowned with concern. She had been watching for a long time, her father's antics, Mei Yi's rebellion, and the chaotic company; her mother was truly exhausted. It was not that she did not want to help; she had tried several times, but each time she was defeated despite her intentions.

Meiguohua indeed could not find any more words to embellish the conversation, and finally got straight to the point: "The young heir of a consortium from the United States called me, expressing interest in collaborating with our Guoyuan."

Mei Shi was annoyed and remained silent, the bow on her waist was tied too tightly, causing waves of stomach pain, making her feel as if she constantly needed to go to the restroom. Her father's praise severely intensified this discomfort.

Mei Shi swallowed hard; indeed, he had never really worried about her in his life. "Dad," Mei Shi looked at him, "just get to the point, I can handle it." If he continued to laugh, she would end up crying.

Zhao Shuyuan's expression was somber, and he nodded in response to his daughter's probing gaze, confirming that this was not a result of Mei Guohua's mental confusion after excessive indulgence

Mei Shi glanced at the two half-circles revealed by her deep V-neckline and said, "You are the same, right? I can tell."

Mei Guohua smiled brightly, "If this matter is successful, I will no longer have to worry about you for the rest of my life"

Zhao Shuyuan forced a smile and said, "Don't think of this matter as commercially minded as your father suggests. The other party has good conditions and is of an appropriate age for you, so just treat it as a regular blind date. I have met this young man once; his personality is not easygoing or lively. I think if you dress more demurely, it might be easier for him to develop a favorable impression of you."

Mei Guohua, like a street vendor, skillfully avoided the main issue: "His parents are definitely pure Chinese, I have already checked this for you." With a seemingly responsible attitude towards his daughter, Mei Guohua nodded, "Let's meet the day after tomorrow evening. I will have my secretary transfer some money into your account, consider it your father's clothing allowance."

"You ... ... you all ... ..." is too frightening, even Mei Shi stuttered

Upon going downstairs for a meal, Mei noticed that her parents were unusually at home, sitting on the sofa in the living room watching her descend. Mei stood at the stairway, filled with suspicion, feeling that something was amiss. Usually, when she got up early in the morning and encountered her father preparing to go to work, she would receive a few scoldings. Today... she couldn't shake the feeling that her father was smiling at her in a very ingratiating manner

"Are you also here to attend President Ruan's dinner?" He Jiajun had already stabilized her facial muscles, with a slender arm placed on her waist like a model, provocatively gazing at her

Mei Shi lightly frowned and finally said with a smile: "Mom, I understand everything."

On the way to the restaurant at the agreed time, Mei Guohua expressed his approval of his daughter's outfit for the Nth time in the car, saying, "After several years, I finally feel that you are wearing the right clothes."

Mei Shi slept until noon, and upon waking, still felt soreness in her waist and legs; even hitting someone is a physically demanding task

A scene suddenly flashed in her mind—her mother and He Jiayun's mother joyfully calling their respective daughters from under the bridge, saying: "Foolish girl, lots of money, come quickly." Then she burst into a magnificent laugh, and after laughing, she realized that everyone in the private room was looking at her in confusion, clearly unaware of why she was suddenly so happy. Mei Shi quickly pretended to be calm and took a sip of tea, as if demonstrating the action, prompting everyone in the private room to follow suit and drink tea, needing to calm their surprise. After laughing, she found that everyone in the private room was looking at her in confusion, clearly unaware of why she was suddenly so happy. Mei Shi quickly pretended to be calm and took a sip of tea, as if demonstrating the action, prompting everyone in the private room to follow suit and drink tea, needing to calm their surprise.

He Jiayun released her grip on her father's hand and, with great determination, walked around to face Mei Shi, her high heels clicking loudly on the ground. Mei Shi calmly raised her handbag to shield her face, and with a "pfft," He Jiayun's saliva splattered onto the leather bag. Mei Shi made an exaggerated expression of disgust as she took out a tissue to wipe it off.

Mei Shi's misfortunes were far from over, as she unexpectedly encountered He Jiayun and her parents in the hotel lobby. Mei Shi pretended to admire the large landscape painting on the opposite wall, presenting the back of her head to He Jiayun, once again confirming the vendetta from their previous lives, realizing that this life required a reckoning of grievances. Although the two attended different departments in university, their privileged backgrounds and striking appearances naturally led to comparisons, gradually transforming what was once indifference into enmity, a situation that girls found difficult to bear.

The young master of Dingyi has not yet arrived, a typical CEO style, making a grand entrance at the last moment. The Mei family and the He family each sit on one side of the table, and it is indeed quite awkward, with little conversation exchanged between them. Mei Shi hears He Jiayun's mother quietly reminding her to "perform well," and Mei Shi wants to laugh. When she turns around, she sees her mother's eager gaze, which instantly gives her goosebumps. Mei Shi hears He Jiayun's mother quietly reminding her to "perform well," and Mei Shi wants to laugh. When she turns around, she sees her mother's eager gaze, which instantly gives her goosebumps.

Zhao Shuyuan stood up and said, "Shishi, go to the study and have a talk with Mom."

Zhao Shuyuan noticed his daughter's hesitation in speaking. "It's not about forcing you in any way, but rather about leaving a good first impression on the other person. If after a few interactions, you truly feel that you are not compatible... then so be it." Even though it was merely a hypothesis, Zhao Shuyuan's tone carried a sense of reluctance and disappointment.

Mei Shi's facial muscles were stiff, and in her father's eyes, she had become a "precious girl". This shows just how much exaggeration is contained in the phrase "I've never seen anyone so beautiful in my life"—it should be said, it is all exaggeration. She could already imagine her father's so-called subtlety, holding the phone and laughing heartily, directly asking the other person: Are you married? Do you have a partner?

Mei Shi blinked with difficulty, not wanting to directly dampen her father's enthusiasm. "Can foreigners be trusted? They wouldn't just want to take a mistress in the country, would they?"

Ah? Mei Shi looked at her mother in disbelief. The young master from America wants to collaborate with them? It's either a shell company or a pure scam! In the local business circle, everyone knows that Guoyuan has been struggling for the past two years. If it weren't for her father's connections and insider information, they would have long been on the brink of collapse. Her mother's temper has been getting increasingly irritable, all due to dwindling income and increasing cost-cutting. Even if a young master with a brain squeezed by foreign doors came looking for partners, it would be impossible for him to approach Guoyuan. In the local business circle, everyone knows that Guoyuan has been struggling for the past two years. If it weren't for her father's connections and insider information, they would have long been on the brink of collapse. Her mother's temper has been getting increasingly irritable, all due to dwindling income and increasing cost-cutting. Even if a young master with a brain squeezed by foreign doors came looking for partners, it would be impossible for him to approach Guoyuan.

Just as I was thinking, the restaurant manager gracefully pushed open the door and said, "Mr. Ruan, please."

"Shishi, I have good news to tell you," Mei Guohua said warmly as he stood up from the sofa, his chubby face glowing. This startled Mei Shi, causing her to take a step back and bump into the wall. A man of her father's age still being so lecherous was quite unsettling; it was only now that she perceived the essence of the creepy uncle in her father's smile.

Mei Shi was too lazy to pay attention to her, thinking it was He Jiayun's impromptu provocation, and it was clear that the Mei couple thought the same. It wasn't until the He family truly entered the same private room with them that Mei Guohua and Zhao Shuyuan exchanged stunned glances, both looking quite surprised. He Jiayun's parents appeared very natural, even engaging in small talk with the Mei family. Mei Shi was deeply shocked; the CEO of Dingyi wasn't from abroad, but rather from outer space, right? He Jiayun's parents seemed very natural, even engaging in small talk with the Mei family. Mei Shi was deeply shocked; the CEO of Dingyi wasn't from abroad, but rather from outer space, right? Perhaps he had made mistakes in hiring employees, and now he had to compete for a girlfriend as well? Moreover, he arranged the interviews at the same time?

Such a direct question clearly stumped Mei Guohua. He stole a glance at his wife, hesitated for a moment, and said: "The specific amount... your mother decides. I have something to attend to, so I will head out first." Mei Guohua left with a sense of satisfaction.