"The president is currently meeting with a guest and doesn't have the time," the receptionist informed Xiong Miao.
True enough, Zhan Yeling was a high-ranking man, with a full schedule. Seeing him required an appointment. It wasn't something you could simply decide on a whim.
Xiong Miao, feeling dejected, turned to leave.
"Manager Xiong, what brings you here?"
Hearing a familiar voice, Xiong Miao turned around to see Gu Yi walking towards her. She motioned to the laptop in her hand, "I wanted to show my designs to President Zhan, but he's currently busy."
Gu Yi looked at her. In her left hand, she held a laptop and a USB drive in her right. Clearly, she was ready to go.
This was just what he needed. He hadn't figured out a way to help President Zhan yet, but now there was hope.
"Let's go, I'll take you to see President Zhan," Gu Yi said.
"But..." Xiong Miao was worried that showing up uninvited would upset Zhan Yeling.
"No worries, the president has some time now."
With Gu Yi's assurance, and considering her proposal was indeed urgent, Xiong Miao hesitated no longer and followed him into the elevator.
"Ding!" The elevator stopped at the top floor.
Gu Yi led the way with Xiong Miao following behind.
At that moment, inside the office, Zhan Yeling sat at his desk, frowning slightly as he read a document.
A persistent woman by his side tried various ways to get close to him.
"Yeling, you've been working non-stop for two hours now. Have some coffee to refresh yourself," Ling Xiaoxiao said. She was holding a cup of coffee that the secretary had brought. As she leaned over to give him the coffee, she lowered her body to show off her chest, hoping to attract Zhan Yeling's desires.
But the man was indifferent, not even bothering to glance her way.
Ling Xiaoxiao's smile froze on her face, and she felt a bit defeated.
However, she quickly suppressed her frustration and disappointment, continuing to maintain a gentle smile. She lifted the coffee cup from the tray and brought it to Zhan Yeling's lips, "Yeling, since it's inconvenient for you, let me feed you."
During her words, she leaned in close, her red lips almost touching Zhan Yeling's face.
The overpowering smell of perfume and the unpleasant taste of lipstick invaded Zhan Yeling's nostrils, filling him with disgust and annoyance.
"Get away!"
"Ah!" Ling Xiaoxiao was pushed and fell to the ground. The coffee splashed all over her, staining her white dress with coffee, making her look extremely embarrassed.
Xiong Miao and Gu Yi walked into the office just in time to see Ling Xiaoxiao about to kiss Zhan Yeling, only to be unceremoniously pushed away.
"President Zhan, if it's not a good time, we can come back later," Gu Yi said, standing inside the office. Although his words suggested leaving, his actions indicated otherwise. It was clear his words were meant for Ling Xiaoxiao.
"No need, what's the matter?" Zhan Yeling's voice was calm, yet authoritative.
"Manager Xiong from the design department is here to present a design proposal to you." Since Zhan Yeling had prosopagnosia and couldn't recognize the person who had entered, Gu Yi deliberately emphasized the words 'Manager Xiong'.
Xiong Miao stood quietly to one side, not daring to speak.
She hadn't expected to witness such a scene in Zhan Yeling's office.
In broad daylight, a woman was bold enough to initiate a kiss.
The fact that this woman could easily enter Zhan Yeling's office without getting kicked out indicated that she was no ordinary person.
At the moment, the only one who could possibly have this privilege would likely be Zhan Yeling's rumored fiancée, Ling Xiaoxiao.
Xiong Miao quickly guessed who the woman was.
Ling Xiaoxiao struggled to her feet. Her high heels were not agreeing with the flat floor, and she almost fell again. She just barely managed to stay upright by grabbing onto the edge of the table.
Her previously impeccable makeup was smudged, and her neatly styled wavy hair was a mess.
Anger flashed across her face but she forcefully suppressed it, causing her features to appear twisted.
Ling Xiaoxiao was so mad that her chest heaved. If anyone else had treated her like this, she would have lashed out, lost control, and started a fight. But this man was Zhan Yeling.
He was the one person she couldn't provoke, couldn't bear to upset.
All Ling Xiaoxiao could do was bury all her unwillingness and anger deep down, forcibly squeezing out a smile on her trembling face: "Yeling, since you have work to discuss, I won't disturb you."
She tried to maintain her understanding and considerate appearance in front of Zhan Yeling, which was actually quite ridiculous.
She was determined to make Zhan Yeling accept her and marry her! That was her ultimate goal!
Ling Xiaoxiao's foot was somewhat crippled, and she limped forward. When she passed by Xiong Miao, she suddenly stopped and looked at her face.
Upon seeing her face, the façade Ling Xiaoxiao had been maintaining collapsed, her face twisted in anger. Wasn't this the woman who had been sleeping with Zhan Yeling in that video last time?
Even though Xiong Miao's face had been injured then, it was now completely healed.
However, given Ling Xiaoxiao's intolerance towards love rivals, she had long memorized the woman's face.
She was the woman who was involved in the scandal with Zhan Yeling last time!
Why was she here?
Here to report a design to Zhan Yeling?
So, she's been a part of the Rich Corporation all along!
Zhan Yeling had actually kept her by his side!
Upon realizing this, Ling Xiaoxiao's beautifully made-up face twisted in a frightening way, and her fist clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palm.
Xiong Miao felt a fierce gaze on her, and when she looked up, she met Ling Xiaoxiao's terrifying eyes.
She stepped back, thinking she was blocking Ling Xiaoxiao's way and that was why she seemed so displeased.
But Ling Xiaoxiao didn't look like she was going to let her off easy; her eyes looked as if she wanted to tear Xiong Miao apart.
Thinking she might have upset Ling Xiaoxiao by not acknowledging her, Xiong Miao forced a smile and bravely greeted her, "Hello."
"Huh, so you're the design department manager. Zhan Yeling's right-hand woman..." Ling Xiaoxiao emphasized the words 'right-hand woman' strongly, clearly implying something.
With that, she left proudly, even though her high heels made her foot hurt.
Xiong Miao was a bit confused. She didn't understand Ling Xiaoxiao's attitude or the meaning of her words.
"Manager Xiong, don't just stand there. Start your presentation," Gu Yi's reminder brought Xiong Miao back to reality.
She opened her laptop, inserted the USB, and was about to put her laptop on the office desk when she realized it was Zhan Yeling's meticulously kept, spotless desk.
She couldn't overstep.
So she held her laptop with her left arm in front of Zhan Yeling while using her other hand to move the cursor.
As she moved closer, the faint scent of magnolia from her drifted into Zhan Yeling's senses, a welcome change from the strong perfume that had filled the room just moments ago.
It lifted his mood quite a bit.
Before she began, Xiong Miao sneakily glanced at the man. Seeing that he seemed relaxed, with no signs of anger, she opened her PowerPoint and started her presentation. "Youth is spirited and the soul pure and clean. Everyone carries a hidden wound within their heart, guarded by an ethereal space we hesitate to discuss. Hence, youth also carries a sense of calm. I used black to represent calmness, white to represent the ethereal. The addition of a red Chinese knot brings a touch of passion within this calmness."