After Bai Ci Xian left Meng Shu Tang, she came over to where Gu Yun Ci was.
"Brother Yun Ci, you came over to keep an eye on things because you were worried about Teacher Meng, right? Don't worry, I just went over to comfort her. I believe she will perform at her normal level today."
Gu Yun Ci did not look at her, nor did he make a sound.
Meng Shu Tang did indeed perform at her normal level today, receiving applause from the entire hall.
There were over a dozen docents for the collection exhibition, all of whom were excellent, but because several of them had never been exposed to ancient bead restoration, some of their explanations were rather superficial.
But Meng Shu Tang was different; she not only explained the ancient beads but also the history and culture behind them.
Everyone listened with great interest, and the applause was thunderous.
Those who had been following other docents defected one after another, coming over to her side.
When Zhou Songyan, the person in charge of the exhibition, saw this, he went to Gu Yun Ci's side. "President Gu, since everyone likes Teacher Meng, let's just have Teacher Meng give the presentation alone!"
Bai Ci Xian was not happy about such a big spotlight falling on Meng Shu Tang.
"Teacher Meng only reviewed the ancient beads from the Southern Song Dynasty. She has never even come into contact with those from the Southern Chen, Wei, or Jin dynasties."
Zhou Songyan smiled. "Supervisor Bai, you may not know this, but Teacher Meng studied under a well-known master in the industry. To her, these collection pieces are just kindergarten-level knowledge."
Bai Ci Xian hated hearing people say that Meng Shu Tang studied under some master.
Which master exactly? She wanted them to name the person so she could see for herself.
"President Zhou, Teacher Meng made a huge blunder yesterday. I don't think her ability is as good as you all hype it up to be."
Zhou Songyan's cheeks flushed. "Yesterday should have been... purely an accident. A perfectly good beaded bracelet shouldn't have had its clasp suddenly come undone.
It might be because of its age, or it's possible someone maliciously sabotaged it.
So, I carefully examined the beaded bracelet afterward and found that it had clearly been tampered with. This person is truly malicious, actually wanting to ruin our collection exhibition.
After learning about this, I mentioned it to President Gu in the exhibition review report and applied to pull the surveillance footage to see who this person really is."
Bai Ci Xian's heart tightened, and her fingers clenched slightly.
"President Gu said... it was just an accessory, and if word got out, it would be making a mountain out of a molehill, so he didn't let me bring it up again."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ci Xian's suspended heart slowly settled, and her clenched fingers relaxed.
"But I can be certain that this matter has nothing to do with Teacher Meng. We have worked together for a long time, and that was her first time touching that item."
Before Zhou Songyan could finish his sentence, Gu Yun Ci interrupted.
"Alright, Songyan, just do as you see fit!"
Zhou Songyan nodded. "Very well, President Gu."
Before leaving, he added with a grin, "In the entire venue, Shu Tang is the only one whose work I am most at ease with."
From then on, it became Meng Shu Tang's solo show. She was like the moon, and the ancient beads of the collection exhibition were the stars, each one affectionately surrounding her.
Bai Ci Xian was jealous. "Brother Yun Ci, we agreed yesterday that I would be the one to explain. I stayed up all night for this, forgetting to eat or sleep.
But in the end, I still couldn't help the company... It's just that Teacher Meng is well-liked. I really envy her for being trusted by you and President Zhou like this."
The man looked at Meng Shu Tang in the center of the exhibition, his tone somewhat cold. "She is her, and you are you. Just do your own job well; there is no need to compare yourself to her."
Bai Ci Xian heard Zhou Songyan call Meng Shu Tang's name as he left. "Brother Yun Ci, do you think President Zhou is interested in Miss Meng? He is such a rigid person. I have been at the company for so long, and I have never seen him get red-faced arguing for anyone."
Gu Yun Ci had no expression on his face. "He is married; he just appreciates talent. I have things to do, I'm leaving first."
After saying this, the man put one hand in his pocket and turned to leave.
Bai Ci Xian stood there for a moment, but she wasn't watching Meng Shu Tang; she was observing Zhou Songyan.
Zhou Songyan was a man who lived up to his name—as steady as a pine and as firm as a rock.
Clearly, when she came out of the office last night, Gu Yun Ci had agreed to everything, but after Zhou Songyan went in, and then Meng Shu Tang went in, the docent for today became Meng Shu Tang again.
Furthermore, Zhou Songyan felt she was incompetent and had been parachuted into Gu Corporation, so he had been looking down on her both openly and secretly.
She had also always viewed Zhou Songyan as a thorn in her side, but at this moment, she suddenly discovered Zhou Songyan's good points.
"Look at the way Zhou Songyan looks at Meng Shu Tang. If there isn't something else going on, who would believe it?"
Bai Ci Xian sneered, crossed her arms, and slowly walked away.
Today's collection exhibition was a great success. After it ended, Zhou Songyan praised Meng Shu Tang highly.
The other docents also knew Meng Shu Tang's true level and offered their congratulations one after another.
"Shu Tang, your presentation today was excellent. Especially when you talked about the agate beads from the State of Guo cemetery, a tourist asked a very obscure question. I was really afraid you wouldn't be able to answer it.
I didn't expect you to handle it with such ease. It's no exaggeration to say that with your level, you could start your own specialized lecture series."
"The best thing about Shu Tang is that she doesn't just read from a script. She can bring the history, anecdotes, and aesthetics behind the cultural relics to life. Even those who are coming into contact with ancient beads for the first time can grasp their value."
"Just now, several tourists were discussing it, asking when you would be presenting again because they want to come and listen.
They aren't even from Jiang Cheng; they had to fly here!"
Zhou Songyan saw everyone surrounding Meng Shu Tang and walked over. "Work is over. Don't crowd here anymore. Hurry up and finish your tasks so you can go back and rest!"
A young colleague asked, "President Zhou, we've been busy with the exhibition for so long and it's been such a success, when are we holding the celebration banquet?"
In previous years, it would certainly have been the day after the exhibition ended.
But this year, because of the beaded bracelet incident yesterday...
Zhou Songyan said, "Once the time is set, I'll notify everyone in the group chat."
After everyone left, Meng Shu Tang walked over to Zhou Songyan. "President Zhou, I'm really sorry about yesterday. I blame myself..."
"No need to blame yourself, it had nothing to do with you." He paused. "Shu Tang, you really gave me too many surprises. That part about the dragonfly eyes and the jade chaoshou—even I, who deals with cultural relics every day, listened with great interest. I told you, for all major events, we still need you to take the lead, hahaha..."
Meng Shu Tang also laughed happily. "It's all thanks to President Zhou's cultivation. If it weren't for President Zhou's discerning eye, I don't know which corner I'd be in.
I will never forget that it was President Zhou who introduced me to Gu Corporation."
"Oh, don't say such formal things. Because of your outstanding work, I have also received many commendations over the years."
Ahem!
Gu Yun Ci appeared beside Zhou Songyan at some point.
"Chatting so happily? Are you done working?"
Zhou Songyan said, "President Gu, it's after work hours now." As he spoke, he took out his mobile phone. "I just recorded the part where Shu Tang talked about the Shang Dynasty jade tube beads. I'll send it to you in a moment.
Didn't you want to learn? This part today is absolutely authoritative."
Meng Shu Tang had been looking down, but after hearing this, she slightly raised her eyes to look at Gu Yun Ci.
Zhou Songyan saw this. "Shu Tang, you might not know, but President Gu appreciates you very much. He has asked me about you quite a few times in private.
After you left yesterday, the latter part was actually President Gu explaining to several leaders. Who did he learn it from? You!"
Gu Yun Ci felt inexplicably irritable upon hearing this, or perhaps not irritable—he couldn't even describe the emotion.
"You two chat, I'm leaving first."
Zhou Songyan said, "Shu Tang, you go tidy up with the colleagues. I'm going to ask President Gu about our celebration banquet."
Before Meng Shu Tang could respond, Zhou Songyan had already disappeared from sight.
She turned around, took a rag, and started wiping things down with the others. She faintly heard Qiao Mo whispering with some colleagues, "You all are still hyping her up? What a huge embarrassment that was yesterday!
I've been at Gu Corporation for so many years, and I've never felt so ashamed!
And a celebration banquet? At tomorrow's conference, it'll be good enough if President Gu doesn't criticize us."
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