Seeing Jiang Ciyou agree so readily, Bo Jinxi had a flash of suspicion in his eyes. But for now, he had no way to verify anything. Since Jiang Ciyou had agreed, he kept his word and sent the tender documents to Yan Corp.
Meanwhile, in another part of town.
Yan Feng was in the middle of a meeting at the company. Of the dozen or so projects Yan Corp currently had, half were in the red, some with massive losses. If they couldn't secure the resort project, Yan Corp might really be in trouble.
But with thousands of construction companies across the country eyeing that lucrative project—just in Rong City alone, there were dozens, if not hundreds—it seemed almost impossible.
The worst part? Bo Corp hadn't even invited Yan Corp to bid. The project was slipping further out of reach.
For the past few days, the team had been holding endless meetings, brainstorming ways to change Bo Jinxi's mind, even researching his preferences. But for someone like him, a golden boy who had everything, what could they possibly offer?
Suddenly, the secretary burst in with a laptop in hand, excitement written all over her face. "General Manager! General Manager…"
Yan Feng, frustrated, snapped, "What's got you all worked up? Can't you see we're in a meeting?"
"The bidding documents! Bo Corp sent us the bidding documents!"
Yan Feng froze for a moment, then stood up, just as excited. "Really? Let me see."
He checked the email, and sure enough, the official bidding documents from Bo Corp were there. This meant that Haifeng Construction finally had the chance to compete with the other construction companies. Yan Feng breathed a sigh of relief but then furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Why the sudden change from Bo Corp?"
The secretary, still overjoyed, said, "I don't know. It just came out of nowhere. Maybe the young master was moved by your sincerity, General Manager."
Others joined in with compliments.
"Yan Corp might not be as big as Bo Corp, but General Manager Yan is still a top-notch talent. You've gone personally several times with such sincerity. Even if the young master didn't meet with you, he must have felt your determination."
"General Manager, you're resourceful and flexible. One day, you might even rival the prince of the capital."
"With you leading the way, Yan Corp will only get better and better."
But Yan Feng's expression grew thoughtful. He had visited Bo Corp four times in person, but none of those visits had resulted in this opportunity. Today, Jiang Ciyou had gone to Bo Corp, and now suddenly Yan Corp received the bidding documents. Could this really be just a coincidence?
Once Jiang Ciyou confirmed that the bidding documents had been sent, she turned to leave. Her steps were quick, but just as she was about to walk out, Bo Jinxi felt something off.
He called out to her back, "I'll be waiting for you tonight at Green Meadow Villa."
Jiang Ciyou didn't respond and walked away without even acknowledging him. Watching her hurriedly leave, Bo Jinxi couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
At 9 p.m., Jiang Ciyou had just finished her bath at the family estate when her phone rang. It was Bo Jinxi, and his voice, cold and barely restrained, carried a hint of fury.
"Jiang Ciyou, how dare you stand me up!"
Jiang Ciyou, however, replied cheerfully, "What do you mean?"
"You clearly promised to move out of the Yan family and into Green Meadow Villa."
Jiang Ciyou's voice was slow and unhurried. Bo Jinxi could practically picture her lazily holding the phone, completely at ease.
"I did agree to move out of the Yan family and into Green Meadow Villa, but I never said when. I'm thinking I'll move in five years."
Five years.
By then, the resort project would have long been completed, and Bo Jinxi would have already left Rong City.
The man gave a sarcastic laugh. "Five years? Why not make it fifty?"
Jiang Ciyou, still smiling, said, "Is there anything else, Mr. Bo? If not, I'll hang up now. Goodnight."
Without waiting for a response, she hung up. Standing on the balcony of the third floor of Green Meadow Villa, Bo Jinxi, enraged, threw his phone down.
Jiang Ciyou, what a piece of work.
He had no idea she could be so cunning!
But Jiang Ciyou wasn't worried. Her task was done. The resort was a government-approved project, meaning it had to go through a public bidding process, with no room for internal deals.
Now that Yan Corp had received the bidding documents, everything would proceed officially. With government oversight in place, Bo Corp wouldn't be able to pull any tricks to remove Yan Corp from the competition.
If Yan Corp didn't win the bid, it would be fate, and it would have nothing to do with her.
Jiang Ciyou had a peaceful night's sleep.
The next morning, Jiang Ciyou headed to the TV station. Though she was the host of the midday news, the station operated under a system where hosts were also reporters. She had to gather news material herself.
As soon as she arrived at the office, she overheard some colleagues gossiping.
"I heard the new person graduated from Columbia University's journalism school and even interned at NBC. Her resume is amazing!"
"With that background, she could easily be a host at a national TV station in Beijing. Why would she come to Rong City?"
"Does this mean Jiang Ciyou's spot as the golden news anchor is at risk?"
"The station chief must have something in mind, bringing in someone this impressive at such a critical moment."
"Honestly, it's about time. What's so special about Jiang Ciyou? She's just a pretty face who's attracted a bunch of advertisers. Sure, she's brought in the most endorsements, but she's only been here for a year. Professionally, any of us could outdo her."
Jiang Ciyou overheard it all as she returned to her desk. The women gossiping suddenly noticed her and their expressions changed rapidly. "Ciyou, when did you get here?"
Jiang Ciyou smiled. "Right when you were complimenting my looks."
Her face was stunning, and when she smiled, it was dazzling, making it hard for people to even look directly at her. But there wasn't a trace of anger on her face, as if she truly believed they were praising her.
The gossiping women forced awkward smiles, but inside, they were fuming. She always acted so magnanimous, making them look like petty fools.
Vivian, the morning news anchor, stepped forward. "Ciyou, we were just joking. Don't take it to heart. We're just worried that your position as the golden news anchor might be in jeopardy."
"Didn't you hear? The new girl who joined today graduated from Columbia University's journalism school. The chief seems to want her to take over Lin Jie's position."
Another woman, dressed head-to-toe in Chanel, chimed in, "Yeah, it's ridiculous. Lin Jie's departure should have meant the spot was yours, given how much ad revenue you've brought in."
Vivian added with a sneer, "But to be fair, the golden news slot needs a professional anchor, not just a top seller. Looks like you're in trouble this time, Ciyou."
Jiang Ciyou knew they were mocking her for being the station's top ad seller, but she didn't mind. "Being the top seller is better than being a parasite. Besides, I leave the station's decisions to the chief. As far as I know, though, the morning news hasn't sold any ad slots this month. The chief is pretty unhappy about that. Maybe you should worry more about yourself."
"Who are you calling a parasite? And besides, I host the 3 a.m. news. Of course, no ads are going to sell for that slot! You try selling ads for that time and then talk!"
"What's all the commotion this morning?"
It was Tang Fei, the middle-aged head of the news department. He smiled as he spoke. "We've got a new colleague today."
He turned to the new girl beside him. "Xia, why don't you introduce yourself?"
"Hello, everyone. My name is Xia Ling."