"Manager Chi, come in as well," Xiao Yun gave a meaningful smile to Xiao Kai before turning and walking into the manager's office.
Xiao Kai's heart pounded aggressively, staring at Xiao Yun's graceful figure before finally lowering his head.
"Kai, she must have ulterior motives for you," Xiao Guan spoke at the right moment. "Don't forget, she's not an ordinary person; she's from the world of cultivation. You have to be careful."
"What do I have that's worth scheming for?" Xiao Kai, still not fully recovered from the recent temptation, said with a touch of longing. "Does she want to seduce me? Has she been practicing a technique to absorb my yang energy as a virgin?"
"Hey hey! Stop daydreaming!" Xiao Guan desperately shouted in his mind several times, finally getting Xiao Kai to snap out of it. "She's most likely after your strange book."
"My book?" Xiao Kai suddenly became alert.
"Don't worry too much; that book can only be opened with your blood, so it's useless to others. Plus, you have me, I'll always remind you."
Just then, the manager's office door opened again, and Xiao Yun's voice rang out, "Xiao Kai, come in."
As Xiao Yun closed the door again, Xiao Kai suddenly felt a sense of nostalgia.
Just two days ago, he had been reprimanded severely by Jia Zhengjing, and Xiao Zhu had been dismissive of him. But now, in just two days, Jia Zhengjing was already cowering in his seat and saying nothing, while Xiao Zhu's caring gaze remained on him, and this female cultivator who had just appeared today was also looking at him with affection.
"Fate can be incredibly wonderful!" Xiao Kai quietly exclaimed, "Let this luck become even more intense!"
"Xiao Kai, here's the situation," Xiao Yun said, "I just discussed with the chairman. The company has decided to assign the planning department to you and Chi Xiao Zhu. Xiao Zhu will be the manager, and you will be the assistant. As for Manager Jia, due to his work abilities and attitude, we plan to transfer him to the company's cleaning department. Do you have any objections?"
"I...I don't have any objections," Xiao Kai hesitantly nodded, but his eyes had been fixed on Xiao Yun's chest. Xiao Yun gave Xiao Kai a strange look and smiled slightly. Her chest seemed to stand a little higher. "Good, speak about the tender from yesterday."
There was an exceptionally clear sound of swallowing spit in the office. Xiao Zhu turned her head and glared fiercely at Xiao Kai, who quickly lowered his head.
"Yesterday's tender was a failure," Xiao Zhu said, her face turning red. "The competition was too fierce. Regardless of the aspect, Tianyi has no advantage, and I think we have no chance with this project."
With a sly look, Xiao Yun said, "I heard that you performed outstandingly yesterday."
"Who...who told you that?" Xiao Kai's face blushed.
"Hey, I'm also here," Xiao Yun laughed and shook with joy. Xiao Kai, looking at her, almost drooled: "You’re really good at fooling people. The way you talked about the Five Element Exploration Technique, one set after another, almost fooled me too."
"Uh..." Xiao Kai scratched his head, awkwardly smiling. "I just didn't want to give up directly...so I just said something casually...besides, we don't have a share in the bidding."
"I know that," Xiao Yun comforted tenderly. "You don’t have to blame yourself. Originally, we didn’t have the strength to compete with those big companies. Yesterday was just for the experience, to learn."
"No good deed goes unpunished. It’s either treachery or theft!" Xiao Guan whispered in Xiao Kai's heart, "It seems she has a big conspiracy."
Just then, someone knocked on the door and said, "Manager, there’s someone outside looking for you."
Xiao Chi nodded, "Alright." He walked straight out the door, Xiao Yun thought for a moment, and then also took Xiao Kai out. Jia Zhengjing silently followed behind. They saw a very handsome young man smiling at them.
Xiao Kai had seen this person yesterday. He was the young master of Zhongxing Real Estate, Ning Yuan, who was chatting with Sima Tingxue at the bidding meeting.
"Miss Chi, we met yesterday. You should remember, right?" Ning Yuan greeted politely, glancing at Xiao Yun walking beside Xiao Kai, unable to help himself.
"I'm Xiao Yun, the Chief Financial Officer of Tianyi Group," Xiao Yun smiled sweetly, extending her hand. "Nice to meet you."
Her hand was snow-white and crystal clear, like white jade, and her fingers slender and delicate. Xiao Kai looked at Ning Yuan's extending hand and couldn't help feeling jealous.
Ning Yuan seemed to be lost in thought as well, holding onto that jade-like hand. After about ten seconds, he reluctantly let go, his tone less formal and more sincere. "Ms. Xiao, I'm really glad to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Ning," Xiao Yun calmly withdrew her hand and leaned towards Xiao Kai. "Do you have any business coming here this time?"
"Oh, it's like this," Ning Yuan realized. "In my capacity as manager of the marketing department of Zhongxing Real Estate, I am here on behalf of the Zhongxing Group to officially inform you. We have ultimately decided to entrust the development plan to your Tianyi Group."
"What? Trust it to us?" Xiao Zhu was somewhat surprised. "Is it from yesterday's bidding?"
"Of course," Ning Yuan smiled. "Simply put, you've won the bid."
Xiao Kai looked at Xiao Zhu, and Xiao Zhu looked at Xiao Kai. Both of them were dumbfounded.
"Are you sure?" Xiao Kai looked Ning Yuan up and down. "Are you really the manager of the marketing department of Zhongxing Real Estate?"
"Naturally," Ning Yuan nodded proudly. "I want to make it clear that I didn’t climb up with connections; I have actual ability." As he spoke, he couldn't help stealing a glance at Xiao Yun. She had clearly noticed his gaze, and her smile became even sweeter.
"Come on, be honest, you must have been sent by Sima Tingxue to come and deceive us, right?" Xiao Kai clapped his hands. "That's definitely it!"
Ning Yuan showed a wry smile. "Mr. Yan, you lack confidence. Why don't you believe that you've really won the bid?"
"Because it's too absurd," Xiao Kai boastfully said. "Such a large company, entrusting such an important plan to a partner without even a formal proposal. With my professional knowledge, just by using my nose I can tell that there's something fishy here."
Ning Yuan shook his head. "Mr. Yan, take a look at this." He showed them the thick contract, bearing the bold letters 'Zhongxing Real Estate.'
"This is our preliminary contract," Ning Yuan explained. "I came here today to discuss the specific details with you because this cooperation involves too many elements, and is most likely going to take three to five years to complete. That's why the chairman wanted me to come in person." He handed the contract to Xiao Yun. "Ms. Xiao, why don’t you take a look first?"
Xiao Yun shook her head and pointed to Xiao Zhu. "She is the manager of the Planning Department."
Ning Yuan blushed slightly, but didn't give the document to Xiao Zhu. Instead, he looked outside and proposed, "It's almost lunchtime. How about this? I'll treat you all today, and we can discuss over a meal."
"That's fine," Xiao Yun agreed. "Where do you want to eat?"
"Ms. Xiao, you decide," Ning Yuan was particularly charming, his voice suddenly tender. Xiao Kai couldn’t help sneering, not buying it at all.
"Are all these rich young masters like this?" Xiao Kai thought indignantly. "Yesterday, that dead horse had designs on Xiao Zhu, and today, this Ning Yuan wants to make a move on Xiao Yun. It's really indulgence from being well fed."
The four went to a restaurant near the office. The environment was nice, and Ning Yuan asked the waiter to get a private room. They ordered over thirty dishes, filling the table. Xiao Kai, feeling bitter, estimated that this meal would probably cost half a year's salary, silently lamenting the excess of these pampered young masters.
Xiao Yun's eyes sparkled, as she said, "Mr. Ning, are you treating us like pigs?"
"No, no," Ning Yuan hurriedly explained, "Ms. Xiao, today I am extremely honored to take two beautiful ladies to dinner, of course, I can't be negligent. Also, Ms. Xiao, why be so reserved? You can just call me by my name directly. If you don't mind, may I call you Little Yun?"
Xiao Yun chuckled, "How can I be Little Yun? I’m already past my prime and can already be your older sister."
"How is that possible," Ning Yuan said warmly. "I just turned twenty-three last month, and I think Little Yun, you should be just eighteen, right?"
Xiao Kai quietly shrank his neck, feeling goosebumps all over his body. Although Xiao Yun was beautiful, she did not exude the aura of an eighteen-year-old girl. It was really something for Ning Yuan to say such sappy words in front of everyone; he was indeed not an ordinary person.
Xiao Yun burst into laughter. "Ning Yuan, you're not supposed to exaggerate like that."
After this laugh, Ning Yuan blushed a bit and said sheepishly, "I'm just excessively admiring of Little Yun."
Xiao Kai sneakily glanced at Xiao Zhu, who was covering her mouth and laughing. She was shaking so much that it seemed she was having a seriously violent laugh.
"Uh, about that..." Xiao Kai said sourly. "What exactly did we come here to discuss?"
"Oh, right, about discussing the contract," Ning Yuan seemed to wake up. He quickly took out the contract. "Let me give you a brief introduction."
Xiao Yun lightly glanced at Xiao Kai with a touch of charm, then bit into a crystal shrimp. This set Xiao Kai's heart racing.
"As for our cooperation this time, our idea is..." Ning Yuan started to explain the contract in detail, before the sudden noise of footsteps and shouting burst in from outside.
"Get him! Beat him to death!"
"Damn, they even dare to steal from Axe Head Brother's waist bag. They don’t want to live!"
"Axe Head Brother, I saw them running in this direction!"
The four of them faced each other, when suddenly there was a loud crash, as the door was kicked open. Several rough characters barged in, and the one at the front just happened to be an old acquaintance of Xiao Kai's - it was the sunglasses guy who had hit him with a car two days ago.
"Axe Head Brother, the thief must be hiding in here," one of the thugs yelled loudly. "I saw it very clearly."
"No, we haven’t had anyone come in here," Xiao Kai said innocently.
Unfortunately, the others completely ignored him. The sunglasses guy had come to look for a thief, but as soon as they kicked open the door and saw Xiao Zhu and Xiao Yun, they stopped in their tracks, turned around and cursed, "Be quiet, don't make a fuss, have no manners at all."