Tian Xin stood at the office doorway, listening to the conversation between Ye Shu and Ye Wenzhao. She held her palm tightly, and when Ye Wenzhao came out, he immediately pulled her away.
Not long after, cries and commotion could be heard from the office of Ye Corporation's chairman.
Ye Shu's assistant, Xiao Mao, sneaked into Ye Shu's office and whispered.
"That Secretary Tian is so out of line. She's just a step-daughter brought by a minor wife. I don't know where she gets the nerve to be so arrogant, making a scene for almost half an hour now."
Upon hearing this, Ye Shu's expression remained unchanged. She put down the document in her hand, "Are you not busy? Go make me a cup of coffee."
Seeing that Ye Shu had no interest whatsoever in commenting on the matter, the assistant left sheepishly.
Peace once again returned to the office, and Ye Shu picked up the document again.
Soon, the door was pushed open again. She thought it was the assistant with her coffee and said indifferently, "Put it on the table."
Tian Xin saw how calmly and composed Ye Shu appeared, a demeanor filled with an aura and charm she felt she could never learn in her lifetime.
"Xiao Shu, it's me. Dad asked me to go to Huo Group with you to discuss the project."
At this, Ye Shu looked up at Tian Xin, her gaze exceptionally sharp.
"Who told you I was going to Huo Group to discuss the project?"
Tian Xin took a deep breath, tightening her grip, looking at Ye Shu with dissatisfaction.
"I heard what you and Dad just said. Xiao Shu, I know you don't like me, but when it comes to matters concerning Ye Corporation's interests, I hope you won't be capricious. After all, everyone is striving for the good of the company. You, a designer, obviously can't negotiate this project on your own."
Ye Shu chuckled softly, her eyes gradually beginning to mock.
"Tian Xin, you're quite self-aware, aren't you?"
Tian Xin clenched her teeth secretly, yet didn't dare to show her anger as she had in front of Ye Wenzhao.
"Xiao Shu, we're all family now. Why must you target me like this?"
Ye Shu sat in her office chair, her head lower than Tian Xin's. However, when she looked up at her, Tian Xin felt an indescribable pressure.
"Secretary Tian, your last name is Tian, and mine is Ye. I don't acknowledge you as my family, nor do I have family members like you. I don't need to target you and waste my own time."
As she spoke, she stood up indifferently, glanced at the woman standing before her with a somewhat fierce look, and walked to the door, "What are you standing there for? Aren't you supposed to discuss a project with me?"
Tian Xin took a deep breath, turned around, and saw Ye Shu already striding away, her palms clenched, a flash of envy in her eyes.
Huo Group.
The receptionist at the entrance led Ye Shu and Tian Xin to the reception room, and then left.
Tian Xin saw that Ye Shu was not going directly to meet Huo Shenting but was waiting with her in the lounge.
"Xiao Shu, aren't you and Mr. Huo already married? How can he bear to let you wait here?"
Ye Shu held the teacup just brought by the receptionist, took a sip, and swept a cold glance at Tian Xin.
"If you don't understand the rules, keep your mouth shut. Do you think this is Ye Corporation? Just because your mother excels in climbing into bed, you think you can become the chairman's chief secretary?"
Tian Xin's face turned livid, pained by Ye Shu's jab and suddenly stood up from her chair. The teacup on the table was overturned, tea flowing over the edge of the table onto her legs, scorching her and causing her features to contort in pain, her bare legs also drenched.
"Ye Shu, did you do that on purpose?"
At that moment, the door of the lounge was pushed open, and Huo Zijun and Huo Shenting walked in from outside.
Ye Shu lightly raised her eyebrows, not having time to respond to Tian Xin's words. Upon seeing the man approaching her, she stood up from her chair.
This man seemed to always wear a sharp black suit, commanding authority and intimidating presence.
The innate nobility he was born with could not be manufactured or enhanced by any external means.
She told the receptionist that she wanted to see Vice Director Wang, but to her surprise, it was Huo Shenting who showed up.
"Mr. Huo..."
Tian Xin looked up suddenly upon hearing Ye Shu's words and found Huo Shenting had already approached them, accompanied by Zijun, whom she had been longing to see.
Her face turned red with embarrassment, and she cursed Ye Shu silently in her heart.
"Mr. Huo... Mr. Huo Zijun."
Since his arrival, Zijun's gaze had been fixed on Ye Shu; he had never seen a woman capable of making Huo Shenting, who was in the middle of a discussion with Director Wang, stop his work and rush over immediately.
"Shenting, this is..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Huo Shenting took a step forward, completely blocking his view of Ye Shu.
"What are you doing here?"
Huo Shenting's voice was indifferent, and his gaze was solely focused on Ye Shu.
Seeing herself being sidelined, Tian Xin felt aggrieved. She stepped forward, her tone both respectful and polite.
"Mr. Huo, we are here to discuss a project with you. My father has mentioned it to you before. Xiao Shu said that, given your relationship, securing this project shouldn't be a problem, so we..."
Ye Shu glanced at Tian Xin but did not contradict her.
She had calculated her way into marrying Huo Shenting; in his heart, his impression of her was probably even worse than what Tian Xin had just described, so she didn't care what Tian Xin said in front of him.
As Tian Xin spoke, Zijun's gaze finally rested on her; he felt she looked somewhat familiar.
"Have we met somewhere before?"
Tian Xin nodded, feigning modesty, "We met at the beach party organized by Lan Xin."
Zijun nodded nonchalantly then withdrew his gaze, without saying much.
A hint of disappointment flashed in Tian Xin's eyes as she stood behind Ye Shu.
Seeing the intense gaze Huo Shenting was fixing on her, which seemed slightly tinged with anger, Ye Shu smiled lightly, feigning nonchalance.
"I was originally planning to talk to Director Wang, but since it's you, that saves us one step in the process."
As she spoke, she took out some documents and designs from her briefcase.
"My father mentioned that he brought this up the last time during dinner but I believe he might not have explained our strengths."
Huo Shenting took the documents Ye Shu had brought, glanced over them, then set them down.
"Are you planning to handle this purely as business?"
Ye Shu raised an eyebrow but didn't deny it.
Tian Xin was about to speak for Ye Shu, but seeing Huo Shenting's stern and cold expression, she instantly dared not speak.
If this project were to fall through, the blame would be on Ye Shu, not her.
Gazing at Ye Shu's composed demeanor, Huo Shenting narrowed his eyes like a hawk, "The Ye family isn't qualified enough to collaborate with the Huo Group."
His voice was deep, exuding an authoritative firmness that brooked no argument, striking directly at Ye Shu's heart.
"Mr. Huo, although the Ye Corporation may not be as strong as other companies, we are still quite capable..."
"It's good that you know you're not as good as other companies," Huo Shenting curtly interrupted her, without a hint of courtesy in his cold voice.