Ye Jie left Li Qiao's office with plenty of things in mind. Even though Li Qiao didn't say much but what he said was more than enough for Ye Jie. He was thinking about the answer Li Qiao gave him when he asked the question. "Does she not get drunk?"
Li Qiao's face was indifferent but his voice held a lot of concern. "It's not that she doesn't get drunk. Lin Shen said that she's putting all her efforts in settling a psychological barrier. That barrier around her mind is not allowing her to put her guard down. She doesn't want to let anyone close to her weaknesses." Li Qiao sighed as he pinched his brows.
In his thoughts, Ye Jie didn't see the person standing in front of him and ended up banging into her. "Sorry!" He apologized immediately without missing a beat.
Yu Kim smiled politely and said, "It's okay, Mr. Ye."
Ye Jie stared at her face with a frown between his brows. He rubbed his chin with the index finger as if trying to remember something. "Have we met before?" He asked.
Ye Kim was surprised at his question but she replied, "I don't think so."
"Why do you look so familiar then?" He wasn't asking her the question rather the question was to himself. Before Yu Kim could react Ye Jie walked past her in his thoughts. But after a few steps, he abruptly stopped. "Ahan!" He turned to her again as she looked at him. "You're reminding me of Mr. Yu Ting. Are you related?"
Yu Kim's body stiffened at that name but she recovered in a matter of seconds. With a smile plastered on her small face, she replied. "He's my father, Mr. Ye. Isn't it obvious I'll look like him?"
Ye Jie's eyes widened at her reply. He was even gaping. Yu Ting was a name to be feared in the business world. He belonged to a conglomerate family with a history that went far ancient times. He had only heard that Yu Ting had only a daughter that was precious to him more than his business. It would come as a shock to anyone that such a powerful man's daughter was working as an assistant.
"Do you want to ask why I'm here?" Yu Kim asked since that was the most asked question in her life.
Ye Jie shook his head without delay. This time Yu Kim frowned. "I'll ask my wife about that. That way, I'll have something to ask and she'll have to talk." Ye Jie was rubbing his hands inwardly but he only showed a smile outwardly.
For some reason, Yu Kim found his answer very pleasing. She didn't expect that what she heard about Ye Jie was not true at all. She shook her head with a smile on her face as she watched Ye Jie's disappearing figure.
-Conference Room At Vintage Gems-
The conference hall was submerged in a vehement debate. The agenda for the board meeting was closely related to how Vintage Gems was planning on dealing with CoCo Jewels who appeared to have decided on choosing Jade Stones over Vintage.
Everyone Loves profit. As they say, "Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception." There is no doubt that people would choose a profit. Even though Vintage was a huge name in the market, but Vintage only depended on the talent of its people and their hard work. While Jade Stones had the backing of both Fu's and Xu. It was quite evident for a sensible person to know which one will be profitable.
And a verbal agreement is like sand in the business world. One can just make that sand go away with a bit of wind.
"Vintage will have to take a huge blow if this deal went to someone else." One of the directors spoke with fury.
"Jade Stones are getting shameless day by day. Our market value is better than them yet they are using other means to take away our deals." Another one chimed in.
"But if they sealed the deal with CoCo Jewels, Vintage's market value will go down. Our shares will drop drastically." This voice was not furious rather anxious.
All this while, the person sitting at the main seat had not said a word. Xu Mey was reclining on her chair with an air of languidness. It was like she wasn't even listening to what was being said. But the truth was she was listening to every word, she just wasn't letting those words enter her brain. Her mind already had Ye Jie's words, how could it let some not-so-important directors words enter?
All of a sudden, a phone ringtone rang in the conference room making everyone's breath hitch. All the members of the board pulled out their phones to check with cold sweat making its way on their foreheads. It was common knowledge that President Xu didn't like the sound of the phone. There was once a manager whose phone rang during the meeting and after that, the poor manager had to work overtime for an entire year without a single vacation.
"Whose phone is ringing?" Everyone looked at each other before sneaking glances at Xu Mey to observe her reaction.
Xu Mey's phone was laying with the screen facing the table on her right side. She picked it up and saw the familiar caller id flashing on it. When everyone saw that it was the President's own phone, they all had mixed feelings.
"President Xu has a phone?" Someone voiced out in surprise.
"Isn't it obvious that she has a phone?" Another one chided the previous one.
"No... I mean... She doesn't really use it..." He was a bit hesitant but he wasn't alone. Every board member had to contact Xu Mey through Qin Hao. So, they assumed that she didn't like cell phones. And her own phone was just for show.
When Xu Mey looked up at them, everyone quietened. There was pin-drop silence in the room. "Hello!" She accepted the call in a calm voice.
"Hey, my dear wife! How are you?" Ye Jie asked the usual question.
"I'm fine." She replied straightforwardly. Even though everyone saw her calm face, they felt like her voice a bit gentle than usual. Her usual calm voice was a bit cold but today, it was awfully gentle.
"Since you won't ask. Let me tell you, I'm also fine." Ye Jie continued to talk.
"En." She replied making Ye Jie roll his eyes.
"Dear wife?" His voice suddenly seemed softer and cautious.
"Yes."
"Your... *cough* Your dad called to invite us to Xu Residence tomorrow." Ye Jie answered honestly. He was walking out of Lotus Entertainment when Xu Chen's call surprised him.
"Mhm..." She replied.
"What should I say to him?"
"Do you need my permission for everything?" She asked amusingly.
"Fine... " He stayed quiet for a long while just listening to her soft breathing. Knowing well enough that she won't talk by herself, he continued, "I placed a pack of orange fruit jellies in your jacket. Don't forget to eat it."
"I told you, I don't -" He interrupted her.
"I know you don't like sweet things. But I think you should try eating some sweet things. You said yourself, Life is bitter. 'That's why everyone wants sweet things.' We have to make up for the bitterness." She could feel the smile in his tone. But she was more surprised that he quoted Black Butler. "Take care of yourself and I'll see you at home." Ye Jie disconnected the call.
Almost all the pair of eyes in the room was trained on Xu Mey. She straightened up after the call and said, "Leave CoCo Jewels deal with me. I'll deliver the results by next week." The gentleness in her voice was taken over by a frost.
"But President Xu, Jade Stones is signing the deal with CoCo Jewels next week." One of the members tried to reason with her.
Xu Mey looked at him making him gulp. "Did I ask you?"
"N-No..." He stammered.
"Then I don't need your suggestion." With that, the meeting came to an end.