"What exactly is it that you should be taking!" Zhan Yeling's eyes locked onto her, his icy demeanor pervading the atmosphere.
Xiong Miao didn't understand why he was so angry. "In the nightclub, a waitress does a few small things as per the customer's request and gets a small tip. It's quite normal."
"I only serve tea and pour water. Pouring alcohol is fine too. But for other things, I won't do it, nor will I take money for them." Xiong Miao laid out her boundaries.
She wasn't sure why she felt compelled to tell him all this.
"Heh..." Zhan Yeling chuckled, his extremely handsome face unflappable.
She spoke well, but he feared she was full of lies.
What did his contemptuous smile mean?
Did he not believe her words?
Of course, she knew she shouldn't tell others about her own matters. Because other than herself, nobody would care to know her circumstances.
If she shared with others, it would only give them more reason to laugh at her.
The car pulled up to the side of a shopping mall.
Zhan Yeling was the first to exit the car, and Xiong Miao followed.
Seeing him walk over to a clothing store's display window, Xiong Miao followed along.
At this moment, the mall was already closed, and the clothing store's lights were off.
But thanks to the streetlights, they could still see the clothes on the mannequin in the window.
They were part of a green series.
But they were grass-green, and every style incorporated popular Western elements.
It was somewhat similar to her design, but her design leaned towards the domestic style, while this one leaned towards an international style.
"Take a good look, know where your design falls short." The man's voice was as deep as the notes of a cello, rich and commanding.
Xiong Miao turned around to look at him. The dim yellow light cast shadows over his chiseled, deep-set features, making it hard to discern his expression or see what was brewing in those bottomless eyes.
But Xiong Miao knew that he was discussing work with her, and his words were his critique of her design.
"I get it now. My designs are still stuck in conventional thinking, they're too similar, and lack originality. Thinking that such designs would suffice for a new product launch is naive." Xiong Miao's mind was quick, and she immediately understood where she fell short.
"You have some good ideas, like the use of traditional domestic elements." Zhan Yeling didn't entirely dismiss Xiong Miao's design; instead, he was intrigued by the red knot she incorporated.
Since ancient times, the red knot has been a symbol of celebration and happy endings.
Incorporating the red knot into her design was indeed fitting for the theme.
"Alright, then I'll continue to improve." Xiong Miao became serious.
Zhan Yeling returned to the car. Xiong Miao stood still, planning to watch him leave.
"Get in the car!" His command left no room for refusal.
Xiong Miao, with her slow-witted demeanor, got in the car, her heart apprehensive, unsure of where he would take her next.
This time, he parked the car in a deserted open field.
The place was vast, cold, and uninhabited.
The wind of the night was cold, sweeping over the skin, chilling and giving off a eerie vibe.
Xiong Miao unconsciously hugged herself, indeed it was cold, and she was quite scared.
Having watched too many crime movies, she knew this kind of place was perfect for committing a crime.
If Zhan Yeling had any twisted ideas and decided to harm her, her cries would be useless, unheard by both heaven and earth.
"Youth is not necessarily lively and vibrant, it can also be ethereal." Zhan Yeling stood at the top of the open space, hands in his pockets, lazily relaxed. His tall figure stood erect in the wind, his gaze looking into the distance.
The wind fluttered his wrinkle-free trousers, the fabric swaying, making a subtle sound, adding a hint of liveliness to the silent night.
Xiong Miao turned her head to look at him, his black eyes blending with the night, mysterious and profound.
The combination of depth and etherealness didn't seem at odds at all.
Suddenly, Xiong Miao had a flash of inspiration, a surge of ideas flooded her mind.
She knew how to design it now.
"Let's go." The man suddenly turned around and left.
Looking at his tall retreating figure, Xiong Miao had a sense of desolation for the first time.
She shook her head, how could a man as high and mighty as Zhan Yeling feel desolate?
She was just overthinking.
Inside the car, Zhan Yeling said, "New City Hua District."
He was talking to the driver.
Wasn't this the area where she lived? Was Zhan Yeling intending to take her home?
"No need, just drop me off in the city area, I can take a cab home by myself." Xiong Miao quickly said.
If Zhan Yeling were to send her home, what would happen if he saw the children?
She couldn't take any risks.
How had she not thought of it before? Zhan Yeling had been to her house, knew where she lived, what if he made a sudden visit in the future, and bumped into her six precious ones, if he found out about the children, that would be disastrous.
Now, she had already paid three months' rent, it would be difficult to move.
Zhan Yeling casually glanced at her, making Xiong Miao tense, she wasn't sure if he had heard her just now.
And his icy gaze didn't dare her to say it a second time.
The car still drove to the New City Hua District.
Luckily, it only stopped in the neighborhood. She got out of the car, and the car drove away.
Watching the receding black car, Xiong Miao's tensed shoulders finally relaxed.
Thankfully, he didn't insist on going up.
"Slap!" Xiong Miao slapped her own forehead, muttering to herself, "What are you overthinking about all day long, Zhan Yeling driving you to the neighborhood is already the limit. You thought he would escort you into your house? What a ridiculous idea. He drove you to the neighborhood, maybe he was just going the same way."
Thinking this way, the pressure in Xiong Miao's heart eased significantly.
When she got home, she opened the door and a scent of milk assailed her nostrils, settling her weary heart.
She bent down, kissing the soft and fragrant little ones' faces one by one.
Only then did she go take a bath.
Tonight, she was inspired and decided not to sleep.
She pulled an all-nighter in the living room, drawing designs.
In the morning, she made breakfast, dressed the little ones, and called them to eat. As soon as they finished, Su Mumu arrived.
Xiong Miao tidied up and hurriedly left for the company.
"Manager Xiong, Mr. Zhan has vetoed your design. You're aware of this news, right?"
As soon as she arrived, Xiao Chen cornered her on the side of the road, a look of excitement on her face. "There's only a week left until the new product launch. Unless you can produce a mature design today that impresses Mr. Zhan, you've lost. I see that one day is not enough for you. Better start preparing on how to release the video confessing that you're a homewrecker!"
Xiong Miao really wanted to wipe the smug look off Xiao Chen's face.
"You don't need to worry about me, I can handle my own business." Xiong Miao gave her a glance, brushing past her, completely unaffected by her words.
"Hmph, I'll see how you lose when the time comes!" Xiao Chen, frustrated, glared at her retreating figure and angrily returned to her desk.
Xiong Miao gathered her materials, then took her laptop and USB drive and left.
Xiao Chen was right, she only had one day to submit her design proposal.
Since Mr. Zhan wouldn't come to the design department for a meeting, she would go to the headquarters to present her design proposal to him!