Zhou Mi didn’t refuse Jijie’s dinner invitation.
Because of work, because of the department head’s assignment, and more because of her excessive idle behavior tonight. If she could increase the possibility of securing projects for the company through good interpersonal relationships, or develop K Records into a future regular cooperating agency, why not?
Besides, Jijie was indeed a very easy-going client, Daddy. Although he held a high position, there wasn’t the slightest hint of condescension about him. He was more like a sunny, handsome male classmate from another department who might appear in the same elective course lecture hall.
So Zhou Mi directly replied, “Sure,” and then said: But can I treat you instead?
Jijie asked: Why?
Zhou Mi said: To win you over, and also to apologize for being idle tonight.
Jijie replied with a smiley face: That works too.
After saying goodnight, Zhou Mi spent some time on Dianping selecting well-reviewed mid-to-high-end restaurants near K Records’ Hundred Yuan Building. Once she had a good idea in mind, she stuffed her phone back under her pillow.
Zhang Lian had just opened the door and came out at this moment. Zhou Mi quickly closed her eyes.
He slipped into the same blanket and naturally pulled her into his arms with an instinctive motion.
Zhou Mi felt his face draw near, carrying the mild, refreshing scent of men’s skincare products, along with his warm breath falling on the tip of her nose: “Stop pretending to sleep.”
Zhou Mi could no longer hold back her laughter, squeezing her eyelids.
Zhang Lian kissed the same wrinkled spot.
Zhou Mi half-opened her right eye, playfully as if winking: “How did you know I was pretending?”
Zhang Lian mocked: “When you’re asleep, you never look this good.”
Zhou Mi snorted like an angry little calf, kicking him under the blanket, only to be immediately pinned down by his leg, unable to move.
Zhou Mi changed her attitude, her small face full of satisfaction: “Anyway, I tricked you into giving me a forehead kiss.”
Zhang Lian curled his lips: “If you’re awake, you can have more.”
Zhou Mi’s eyes sparkled, looking expectant: “Like what? I’m awake now, quickly tell me.” The last syllable was light and crisp, popping out like a fish blowing bubbles.
Zhang Lian’s hand came over and flicked the same spot he had just kissed.
Zhou Mi covered her head with a yelp of pain, attempting to retaliate with the same forehead-flicking method.
Zhang Lian wouldn’t let her succeed, instantly restraining her arms and gently sucking on her lips: “Why do your lips taste so sweet today?”
Zhou Mi licked her lower lip, puzzled: “Huh? Really?”
Zhang Lian chuckled softly, pressing down to continue kissing her. Zhou Mi, lost in passion, cradled his face and surrendered her tongue.
—
At nine-thirty the next day, the Aoxing team arrived at the Hundred Yuan Building. The team sent six people to participate in the pitch, with two main speakers. They were met on the first floor by a male manager from the same department as Jijie. He was rather short and thin, with a kind and pleasant appearance, which greatly reduced Zhou Mi’s nervousness.
For this pitch, she was genuinely just a tool person. Her main task was to take minutes for everyone to review and summarize afterward, and also to be the mascot—this was the nickname Ye Yan had temporarily given her in the car on the way here.
An ACD from the creative department corrected: “Someone like Minine should be called the face of the team.”
Zhou Mi could only sit upright with a smile and accept the compliment.
In the elevator, Ye Yan chatted easily with their greeter. She rarely dressed so professionally—a smoke-gray fitted shirt dress and red-soled shoes made her tall, slender figure look like an elegant, exquisite dagger.
Zhou Mi stood beside them, following as they exited the elevator and went to the meeting room.
The conference room at Hundred Yuan Group was a bit larger than Aoxing’s, with a white long table, white chairs, light wooden walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows that made the interior look spotlessly clean.
The three clients from K Records were already sitting on the left side of the conference table. Jijie sat in the middle, the youngest-looking among them. Even in the workplace, he wasn’t formally dressed but casual in a white T-shirt, casually holding his phone in his left hand.
Just two steps after entering, Zhou Mi’s eyes met his.
Jijie was already smiling, and when he saw her, the curve of his lips became more distinct and widened further.
Zhou Mi smiled back at him, then quickly lowered her eyes and stayed close to her colleagues.
Jijie’s gaze followed her as she took her seat. The young woman was dressed more formally than during their previous two meetings, wearing a pointed collar, puff-sleeve white shirt, and a black checkered skirt. Her hair was braided into a fluffy low braid with some loose strands around her ears, giving her the air of a Korean drama secretary female lead.
After some casual chatting, Ye Yan went to the large screen to open her laptop and connect to Bluetooth.
She was one of the main presenters for this pitch proposal, while the other was the deputy director of the creative department, each responsible for their own sections of the PowerPoint.
Zhou Mi sat in the innermost position, adjusting her voice recorder, then taking out a pen and notebook from her tote bag, her posture remaining stiff from beginning to end.
Ye Yan tested whether the screen projection was accurate, then formally began her presentation. Her demeanor was different from her usual self at the company—very formal, but with a smile that bridged distances. She spoke at a measured pace, delivering explanations based on the PowerPoint content but in more accessible terms, occasionally inserting humor to liven up the atmosphere.
Zhou Mi inwardly marveled, her hand writing continuously, while occasionally stealing glances at Jijie’s reactions.
He rested one hand against half his face, earnestly turning his head to watch and listen, joining in the laughter with everyone else in the meeting room throughout the process.
Next came the creative section.
That experienced ACD was even more impressive, presenting the entire time as if chatting casually, yet directly addressing needs and pain points.
The most exciting part was the Q&A session.
Although Jijie maintained a gentle expression throughout, the two challenges he raised regarding their proposal were practically difficult demands. Zhou Mi listened with sweaty palms, secretly at a loss for words.
If it were her, she might have stammered, having no idea how to respond.
By the end, it was almost eleven o’clock. Zhou Mi packed up her things, mindful of the meal she owed Jijie. She moved more slowly than the others while leaving the meeting room, unsure how to broach the subject appropriately.
Fortunately, Jijie called out to her.
The Aoxing team all turned back together, with varying expressions—some surprised, but most with teasing smiles.
Jijie walked quickly over, smiling: “You haven’t forgotten what you promised me yesterday, have you?”
Zhou Mi first curved her lips at him, then glanced at her colleagues: “No.”
Ye Yan raised an eyebrow, her tone lilting: “What promise is that—”
Everyone snickered together.
Zhou Mi looked toward her leader, her expression slightly embarrassed: “I promised Jijie last night that I’d treat him to a meal after we finished today.”
The ACD deliberately interjected: “Are we all included?”
Ye Yan elbowed him: “Don’t disturb them, okay?”
“Got it,” the ACD said, rubbing the spot where she’d hit him. “Let’s go, everyone, clear out. We lonely people will find our lunch.”
Ye Yan looked at Jijie again, speaking like a mother: “Our little mascot Mimi is in your hands for lunch. Remember to take good care of her.”
Jijie laughed, his eyes curving: “I will.”
The group of colleagues left together at the fastest speed, leaving Zhou Mi alone.
The bright meeting room entrance became completely quiet, and for a moment, both were speechless.
Zhou Mi raised her eyes to look at Jijie, then nervously fidgeted with her head: “Shall we go downstairs?”
“Sure.” Jijie smiled: “Let’s go.”
Entering the elevator, Zhou Mi took out her phone, pulled up several restaurants she had pre-selected yesterday, and held it before him with both hands: “Which one would you like? There’s Western, Chinese, Japanese, Southeast Asian, all options.”
Jijie bent slightly: “Aren’t the prices a bit high?”
Zhou Mi immediately raised it higher: “It’s fine. You’re worth it.”
Jijie could barely suppress his amusement: “Which type do you like?”
Zhou Mi said, “I’m fine with anything. It’s mainly up to you, you’re the one being treated.”
Jijie pointed to a Thai restaurant with his hand that could have been a hand model’s: “How about this one?”
Zhou Mi nodded: “Good.”
After being seated, Jijie took full responsibility for ordering. When the waiter left with the menu, Zhou Mi eagerly asked: “How is Nakoruru doing lately?”
Jijie looked at her from across the table: “Very well.” After answering, he took out his phone, found a video to share with her: “I don’t know where she gets so much energy every day.”
Zhou Mi watched, her lips curving upward, amused by their lively, bouncing appearance: “I wish I could have some of that energy.”
Jijie asked: “Is work very tiring every day?”
Zhou Mi returned his phone: “Yes, it feels like there’s even more to do after becoming a regular employee.”
Jijie said: “But I see you’re quite energetic in your Moments.”
Zhou Mi paused for a second: “Just… making the best of a difficult situation.”
Jijie took a sip of lemon water: “No wonder you haven’t had time to play games together lately.”
Zhou Mi pressed her lips together sheepishly: “Mmm…” Then made an excuse for herself: “This way, no one’s dragging you down. Your alt account can reach seventy stars.”
Jijie said, “I hardly play that account anymore.”
Zhou Mi teased: “I thought that account was for carrying girls as a wild king.”
Jijie smiled: “You’ve got me all wrong. I’ve only carried one girl—you.”
Zhou Mi was surprised: “Ah? You haven’t carried other girls?”
Jijie said, “To be precise, it was created to carry my sister.”
Zhou Mi was somewhat surprised: “You have a sister? A biological one?”
Jijie nodded: “Yes, but she’s terrible at the game yet addicted to it. I can’t carry her.”
Zhou Mi laughed unreservedly: “Is she worse than me?”
“You’re much better than her. When she plays support, I just want to play top lane, as far away from her as possible.”
“Does your sister know you talk about her like this behind her back?”
“She knows. I talk about her like this to her face.”
Zhou Mi looked at his consistently bright and cheerful face: “I’m quite curious how old you are.”
Jijie said, “Want to guess?”
Zhou Mi thought for a moment: “Considering various factors, I guess… between 26 and 28?”
Jijie said, “I’m thirty-one.”
“What?” Zhou Mi nearly dropped her jaw in shock: “But you look like a college student.”
Jijie said, “You’re not the first person to say that. I have a young mindset, I guess.”
Zhou Mi shook her head: “No, you also have a youthful and beautiful appearance.”
Jijie laughed at her choice of words.
When the passion fruit juice arrived, Zhou Mi hurriedly poured some for Jijie, saying, “First, let me apologize for being idle last night.”
Jijie lightly rubbed his flaxen hair: “It’s nothing. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
“No way.”
Jijie quickly picked up his glass and solemnly took a big gulp: “Does this count as accepting your apology?”
—
When returning to the company in the afternoon, Zhang Lian spotted the K Records pitch team waiting for the elevator on the first floor from a distance.
Taking advantage of his height, he scanned briefly and found that Zhou Mi wasn’t among them, unconsciously glancing at the time on his wrist.
As he approached, everyone greeted him, and he nodded with a curved lip, asking a couple of questions about the pitch.
Ye Yan wasn’t very certain: “The other side’s attitude seemed okay, but we don’t know how the other companies did.”
Zhang Lian followed them into the elevator, casually pressing the floor button.
After a moment of silence, he opened his lips with a neutral expression: “Were you few who went today?”
Ye Yan looked back: “Not just us. One stayed behind to have lunch with the client.”
Zhang Lian asked: “Who?”
Ye Yan said: “Minine. She has quite a good relationship with Director Jijie from K Records.”
Zhang Lian didn’t respond further.
Ye Yan thought he didn’t know who she meant: “The pretty intern I was mentoring, who became a regular employee last month.”
Zhang Lian said, “I remember.”
The creative deputy director beside them said, “Those two have an unusual relationship. When I entered the meeting room today, I specifically noticed Director Jijie’s gaze was constantly locked on Minine, you know? Ah, I wish I were a girl, then I wouldn’t need to waste all this effort talking.”
Ye Yan mocked coldly: “Give it a rest. Even if you were female, you couldn’t look like her.”
The deputy director hissed again: “But I think little Mimi is quite perceptive. Didn’t you hear Director Jijie say she was treating him to a meal? That’s the right move. Why not use your connections when you have them? It’s such a good opportunity to develop business relationships, giving our Aoxing some credit.”
Ye Yan agreed: “She’s always been a smart girl, quick to understand things.”
As soon as the elevator door opened, Zhang Lian left the car without looking back.
Ye Yan was a bit surprised that today he hadn’t let them exit first, and quickly quieted down with a reminder, “Stop talking, stop talking, the boss thinks we’re gossiping,” then hurriedly followed him out.