The next day.
After finishing breakfast, Meng Shu Tang left the Old Residence. Since she had documents at Shallow Bay, she went home first.
As it turned out, she ran into Gu Yun Ci at the entrance hall just as he was about to leave.
Zhang Ma and Li Sao were cleaning up, which clearly showed he had eaten breakfast at home.
She was a bit surprised. Shouldn't he be taking care of Bai Ci Xian? Why was he here?
The thought flashed through her mind, but she didn't dwell on it. She changed her shoes and headed upstairs with a rhythmic tapping sound.
Zhang Ma asked if she had eaten, and she said she had.
After grabbing her things and heading downstairs, Gu Yun Ci was still there.
She had a bad premonition, sensing he had something to say to her. Sure enough, they both got into the car.
The man spoke unhurriedly, "You are quite cunning. On one hand, you act weak and helpless in front of me, and on the other, you find the Old Madam to be your backer.
To step on Ci Xian, you would even resort to such low-class tactics!"
It turned out that last night, after the Old Madam had scolded him to his face, she had quietly instructed the butler to teach Bai Ci Xian a lesson.
The butler always handled things discreetly; he didn't cause any serious injury, but simply let Bai Ci Xian know that Gu Yun Ci was a married man and that not just anyone could enter the Gu Family.
On her way to the airport, Bai Ci Xian was "accidentally" bumped into.
The thermos in the cup holder tipped over, spilling scalding hot water onto her leg and blistering the skin into a red, swollen patch.
By the time Gu Yun Ci arrived at the scene, the butler had long since left.
Bai Ci Xian clung to Gu Yun Ci, "Brother Yun Ci, my leg is burned. It seems I won't be able to host the meeting out of town."
Meng Shu Tang was stunned after hearing this. She had no idea about the Old Madam's arrangement. "President Gu, you have misunderstood."
"Actually, you don't need to go to such great lengths."
As he spoke, Gu Yun Ci turned his head, his eyes cold and sinister. "The Old Madam told me last night not to divorce you for the time being.
So there is no need to be so anxious; the title of Madam Gu is still yours for now."
Meng Shu Tang felt a sense of suffocation. "President Gu, the title of Madam Gu is not something I have ever wanted."
"You don't want it? Then why did you work so hard a month ago to secure the partnership with Gu Corporation?"
Meng Shu Tang didn't say anything more, just lowered her head in grievance.
"If you dare to make any mistakes at today's Cultural Tourism Town meeting, or let Ci Xian suffer even the slightest grievance, you will not be doing this project anymore."
Meng Shu Tang gripped the proposal in her hands tightly, her eyes stinging with bitterness.
Fan Xing Studio was located in a corner of the podium building of the Gu Shi Building.
The reason she chose this location back then was to be closer to Gu Yun Ci.
Whether in the office or the work area, she could see the Gu Corporation logo whenever she looked up, or stare at the lights in his office and smile foolishly while working late at night.
But now, she only felt that she was ridiculously stupid.
For the next 47 days, she would likely have to witness the affection and ambiguity between Gu Yun Ci and Bai Ci Xian.
She didn't return to the studio and went straight to the seventh floor of the Gu Shi Building.
Before entering the conference room, she saw Bai Ci Xian talking to everyone from a distance.
In the chilly late autumn, Bai Ci Xian was wearing a white slim-fit knit sweater, her chest slightly prominent.
On her lower body, she wore a camel-colored skirt, the skirt hem barely covering her knees, revealing a section of slender, fair, and shapely calves.
The red marks from the hot water burn last night were faintly visible.
"Supervisor Bai, you are too hardworking! You came to work even though you're injured!"
"Supervisor Bai's legs are so beautiful. No wonder whenever Supervisor Bai goes to the cafeteria, the men's eyes are glued to her legs as if they had sticky tape on them."
When Meng Shu Tang walked in, she saw a colleague pulling on Bai Ci Xian's work badge to look at it.
"Supervisor Bai, where is this? Your hometown? What a huge locust tree!"
Hearing the mention of a locust tree, Meng Shu Tang's heart skipped a beat. She tilted her head slightly and glanced over.
When she saw the photo, her footsteps faltered inadvertently.
This was the garden of the Meng Family Old Residence. How did Bai Ci Xian have this photo?
Bai Ci Xian caught sight of her from the corner of her eye and took it from her colleague nonchalantly. "My mother said she used to visit this house often, so she took it as a souvenir for me."
Meng Shu Tang's doubts vanished upon hearing this. Her grandmother had been bedridden for years before she passed away and had a volatile temper, so the family often changed servants, and many people came to visit.
Perhaps Bai Ci Xian was the daughter of some relative!
Meng Shu Tang sat down in a corner with her computer. A moment later, Gu Yun Ci also entered.
The timing was as if the two had agreed to arrive one after the other.
He entered and sat at the head of the table. The pressure from the person in charge instantly plunged the lively conference room into a deathly silence.
Meng Shu Tang looked at him, her heart rising to her throat.
Usually, he didn't manage this project, leaving it entirely to the Culture and Tourism Department.
The manager of the Culture and Tourism Department was on maternity leave, so the actual decision-maker was Bai Ci Xian.
"He came today, surely not just to kick me out of the game, right?"
Meng Shu Tang thought to herself, feeling uneasy.
She was counting on this project to earn money for her mother's medical treatment!
In stark contrast to her was Bai Ci Xian.
When Bai Ci Xian saw Gu Yun Ci arrive, the smile on her lips couldn't be suppressed, almost reaching her eyebrows.
"We can begin."
The man tapped his fingers lightly on the conference table, looking at Bai Ci Xian.
Bai Ci Xian glanced imperceptibly at Meng Shu Tang in the corner, bit her lip, and stood up. With the assistant's help, she limped to the podium.
She looked as delicate as a camellia in the wind.
On the large screen, the words "Gu Corporation Culture and Tourism Department Quarterly Project Progress Meeting" were displayed. Bai Ci Xian was confident and charming, speaking eloquently.
Finally, she commented, "Our Gu Corporation is determined to create a hit check-in spot for the Cultural Tourism Town, but this proposal is just full of introductions to ancient bead patina restoration techniques and the origins of astrological patterns.
Tourists come here to have fun, not to attend an archaeology class.
After so many revisions, I see that Teacher Meng still hasn't grasped the positioning!" After finishing, she turned her eyes to Gu Yun Ci. "President Gu, I suggest we choose another studio to partner with, shall we?"
Gu Yun Ci didn't say a word, turning his gaze toward Meng Shu Tang in the corner.
Seeing Gu Yun Ci's expression, everyone immediately realized he didn't like this designer.
"I think it's just average too, no highlights, just popular science knowledge that leaves me confused."
"Is Fan Xing Studio trying to use the Gu Corporation's platform to gild itself?"
Meng Shu Tang didn't refute them. Facing everyone's gaze, she walked slowly to the front.
Unflinchingly, she took the laser pointer from Bai Ci Xian's hand. "Many check-in spots on the market today are just flashes in the pan, and what we want to do is 'differentiation'.
The advantage of 'Millennium Star Radiance' is exactly the archaeological feel that Supervisor Bai just mentioned."
As she spoke, she pointed to the star patterns: "The star map on this ancient bead corresponds exactly to the twenty-eight mansions of the Han Dynasty.
I have created an interactive exhibit in this area where tourists can scan a code to find which ancient star corresponds to their zodiac sign, and they can also try their hand at ancient bead rubbing. Isn't this a selling point that others cannot copy?"
She paused. "As for the patina restoration process, we will make it into a transparent display case to demonstrate the restoration process on-site. Based on my experience, this activity itself is also very eye-catching."
Bai Ci Xian's face turned pale instantly. Meng Shu Tang didn't give her a chance to cause trouble; she walked to the window, pulled the curtains, and upon returning, reached out and clicked off the conference room lights.
She clicked on the presentation, and the ancient beads on the display rack suddenly lit up.
"The design inspiration comes from the Ice and Snow World. Ice sculptures refract colors when they encounter light at night, and the patterns on these ancient beads actually hide the same mystery."
Deep purples, lustrous whites, molten reds, and soft pinks flickered and dimmed, weaving a flowing, colorful galaxy in the darkness.
Bai Ci Xian's expression became even uglier.
Faint sounds of approval rose from the audience.
"Only now do I understand why Manager Wang insisted on partnering with Fan Xing. Truly a discerning eye."
"It was President Gu, wasn't it? How did I hear that it was President Gu who decided on Fan Xing?"
...
Meng Shu Tang's voice rang out in the conference room again, "This way, whether it's day or night, the flow of visitors to the Cultural Tourism Town will be continuous."
Bai Ci Xian was about to refute again, but Gu Yun Ci at the head of the table suddenly raised his hand and tapped his fingertips on the table. "Not bad."
Bai Ci Xian's impending rebuttal was emergency-braked and swallowed back.
Just then, Qin Zheng pushed the door open. "President Gu, there's a call from the Cultural Tourism Town saying an accident has occurred, and they want you to go over and take a look."
Bai Ci Xian said, "President Gu, I'll go with you."
Gu Yun Ci replied, "If you leave, what will happen to the work here?"
"Qiao Mo and the others are here. Besides, Teacher Meng is here too."
Anyway, since Gu Yun Ci had just praised Meng Shu Tang, she followed the trend to show her own agreement.
"No need," the man turned his gaze to Meng Shu Tang on the stage.
"Let Teacher Meng go with me instead. Teacher Meng is a professional and has more experience in the implementation of ancient bead exhibits."
After saying this, the man walked out of the conference room with one hand in his pocket.
Meng Shu Tang was stunned for a moment; she hadn't expected the man to take her with him.
But she quickly reacted and left with her computer.
Bai Ci Xian's smile froze on her face, and she whispered in a voice only she could hear, "Meng Shu Tang, don't be too proud! This is all just the beginning!"
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