The woman immediately screamed.
Mu Ci, who had walked up behind Qin Qiqi at some point, pulled her toward the elevator.
“Stop right there!”
The woman wiped the water from her face and shouted toward the elevator entrance, “Security! Security! Stop those two women!”
By the time the elevator doors closed and security rushed over, they were already gone.
Standing inside the elevator, Qin Qiqi only then began to realize what had happened and started to regret it.
“Why couldn’t I hold back? This project is definitely ruined.”
Mu Ci lowered her head and sent a message: “Don’t panic, it’s not ruined.”
“Security was called. They won’t send us to the police station later, will they?”
Mu Ci glanced at the ascending floor numbers on the elevator panel: “If splashing a cup of water gets you sent to the police station, she must be made of pearl powder. Don’t worry, let’s go stir up some trouble first.”
Qin Qiqi looked confused: “What do you mean?”
“Take it out on Shi Na and blow things up.”
_
Shi Na sat in the elegantly designed studio, surrounded by a lavish afternoon tea spread.
A round-faced girl handed her an iced Americano, flattering her: “Sister Na, that design set you recently created is really beautiful. If there’s a chance to launch it, it’ll definitely be a huge hit.”
Another girl offered a soft and delicious macaron: “Yeah, Sister Na, you just lack an opportunity. As long as there’s a chance…”
Bang! The door was slammed open.
Shi Na nearly choked on her iced Americano.
“Qin Qiqi! You…”
Shi Na’s gaze fell behind Qin Qiqi, and she immediately stood up: “Mu Ci? Who gave you permission to come in?”
Mu Ci didn’t answer. She walked straight in, pulled over a chair, and sat down.
Qin Qiqi slammed a folder heavily onto the table: “Too busy, huh? Looks like you’re enjoying your afternoon tea just fine.”
Shi Na usually tolerated being overshadowed, but if she was still pushed around on her own turf today, she might as well quit.
She tossed the folder onto the floor, scoffing disdainfully through her nose: “What’s it to you whether I’m busy or not? I’ll talk to you if I feel like it, and if I don’t, you can wait. Don’t interrupt my coffee.”
The two sycophants beside Shi Na chimed in.
“Designers use their brains, you know? It’s exhausting! If you disturb Sister Na’s rest and she can’t produce good designs, can you take responsibility?”
“Exactly! What’s the front desk even doing, letting just anyone in here!”
Mu Ci watched coldly, her expression unreadable. “I wonder what Director Ku would think if he knew you were slacking off like this.”
Shi Na’s rising confidence instantly deflated.
She shot a glance at the people beside her: “You two, step out for now.”
Understanding her meaning, the two left and closed the door behind them.
With no one else around, Shi Na no longer hid her arrogance.
She looked at Mu Ci with contempt in her eyes: “Miss Mu is just lucky—relying on her parents or connections with friends. No real skills, but plenty of bossiness. Do you really think the whole world will pamper and cater to you?”
“…”
“Just a burden clinging to others. I don’t know why you’re so arrogant all day.”
Qin Qiqi was furious listening to this, but Mu Ci remained calm and unruffled.
She spoke lightly: “If you have the skills, go cling to someone too. It’s just my good fortune, earned from doing good deeds in my past life.”
“Unlike some people who spend their time on wicked deeds, lacking both ability and luck, using their design hours for petty arguments. No wonder their fate is so poor.”
When it came to hitting where it hurt, Mu Ci was a professional.
Shi Na’s face turned ashen as she directly targeted Qin Qiqi: “I’m in charge of this project now. If I say no discussion, then there’s no discussion. Both of you, get out!”
Mu Ci’s gaze was cool as she let out a low chuckle. “Are you sure you have the authority to make that decision?”
Shi Na sneered. “The director has given me full authority over the project. As long as I’m in this studio for a day, you can forget about getting anything done. Unless… you kneel down and beg me. Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll let you succeed.”
This was an open declaration of war.
Qin Qiqi threw her bag onto the table and began rolling up her sleeves.
Screw this project! I’m not taking this humiliation anymore!
Shi Na hadn’t expected Qin Qiqi to resort to violence and took two steps back in fright, her fingers fumbling for the desk phone as she pressed the security button.
Mu Ci slid her chair over to Qin Qiqi and grabbed her arm. “Don’t dirty your hands.”
“I can’t take it anymore,” Qin Qiqi said, thinking of the cold shoulders she’d received the last two times. She wanted to get back at Shi Na with interest. “Xiao Ci, step back. If I don’t beat her to a pulp today, I’m not Qin Qiqi!”
Declaring war was one thing, but resorting to violence changed the nature of the conflict.
After all, they still needed to cooperate on the project.
Mu Ci held onto her without letting go. “Didn’t she say that as long as she’s in the studio for a day, this project won’t succeed? That’s easy to solve—just make her leave the studio.”
Shi Na wasn’t even afraid anymore and burst out laughing.
“Mu Ci, do you really think the world revolves around you? Even if Director Ku wants to fire me, he needs a legitimate reason. Otherwise, how will he convince everyone?”
Just then, the door was pushed open from the outside, and security guards rushed in.
Shi Na immediately pointed at the two of them. “It’s these two! I don’t know where they came from, but they’re disrupting my work. Get them out!”
The security guards moved to escort them out.
“What’s all this noise? Are you all so free that you think there’s not enough work to do?”
An extremely low voice coldly cut through the commotion.
A crowd of onlookers gathered at the door immediately scattered like startled birds.
Hearing the voice, Shi Na looked toward the door in surprise, instantly dropping her arrogant demeanor. “Director.”
Wasn’t Ku Nan supposed to be abroad these days? How did he get back?
Ku Nan glanced at the folder on the floor, bent down to pick it up, and said without revealing any emotion, “What’s going on?”
“Well… Miss Qin came to discuss the project. Director, you always say that the most important thing for us designers is to stick to our creative vision. Miss Qin doesn’t seem to agree, so we had a bit of a disagreement…”
Qin Qiqi’s eyes widened, and a “What the hell!” slipped out.
She had seen people lie through their teeth before, but never to this extent.
Pointing at Shi Na, she gasped in anger, her chest heaving. “Director Ku, not a single word she said is true. I’ve never in my life seen…”
“Ahem…” Ku Nan cleared his throat and shot her a look. “Miss Qin, please watch your language.”
There were at least a few dozen people in the studio. Even if they said they left, who knew how many were still eavesdropping by the walls?
Qin Qiqi tended to speak without thinking when angry, and now she was too furious to say anything.
Seizing the opportunity, Shi Na tried to prove her innocence. “Director, every word I said is true. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Xiao Li and Jiajia. They were both here earlier.”
Mu Ci had remained silent until now, but upon hearing this, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Those two are on your side anyway. How credible are their words?”
It would have been better if Mu Ci hadn’t spoken. As soon as she did, Shi Na immediately turned her attention to her. “Director, putting everything else aside, isn’t it against the rules for Miss Qin to bring Miss Mu here today?”
“Originally, the project collaboration content requires a high level of confidentiality. Since Miss Mu is not an employee of the Qin Group, if she follows in to listen to the project details and it gets leaked, who will be held responsible?”
“…”
What a clever move to exploit the situation.
Mu Ci rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Ku Nan caught sight of that eye roll and genuinely had no idea how to handle this troublemaker. Frowning slightly, he said:
“Although Miss Mu is not part of the Qin Group, she is a specially appointed design consultant for the studio. Is there a problem with her listening to the project?”
Upon hearing this, Shi Na was stunned.
Mu Ci and Qin Qiqi were also taken aback.