The first contract for Shang Zhitao’s new company came from Sun Yu’s company.

They held a bidding meeting in Ice City to recruit suppliers, and Shang Zhitao took Fu Dong along.

Before going, Fu Dong asked, “Boss, we have nothing but a 200-square-meter office and a PowerPoint presentation. Will that work?”

“Yes, it will.”

“But we’ll have to advance the funds ourselves!”

“I have some savings.” When she calculated the costs, she specifically included the funds that would need to be advanced. Initially, they couldn’t take on large projects since a big event might require advancing over a million yuan, which Shang Zhitao couldn’t afford. Once the cash flow broke, the company would be finished.

She had some money left from selling stocks, enough to advance funds for four small events for Sun Yu’s company. After those four events, the funds would start flowing back.

Shang Zhitao had another sum of money, but she would never touch it. She thought, perhaps I should choose a good time to donate this money.

The two of them went to the bidding site. The other competing companies looked very wealthy. Fu Dong became inexplicably nervous, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He asked her, “Boss, can we do this?”

“Yes.”

Shang Zhitao helped Fu Dong refine proposals and negotiate venues. Fu Dong thought his boss was truly impressive, knowledgeable about everything. This is how he described Shang Zhitao to his classmates:

“You guys have never seen what a female boss from a world-class company is like. She’s so cool!”

“She knows everything! Nothing can stump her!”

“Working with her, you can learn everything. She loves teaching me, explaining things thoroughly from beginning to end.”

“Put it this way: are you sure your companies can teach you all this? Can you find anyone more professional than my boss Taozi in Ice City?”

So the two of them proceeded with the bid. Shang Zhitao’s PowerPoint was essentially her resume, showcasing the projects she had worked on over the years. Fu Dong kept thinking to himself, holy shit, this is too impressive.

On the day they learned they had won the bid, Shang Zhitao treated Fu Dong to a nice meal, calling it a company team-building activity. Their company now had only the two of them, but they needed to hire more people. At the same time, they also needed reliable execution companies. This made her think of Xing Yi, who worked at the Culture and Tourism Bureau and should know many reliable execution companies.

Xing Yi indeed proved reliable. Within half an hour, he brought the head of an execution company. They all had a meal together, and Shang Zhitao’s company officially got off the ground.

After dinner, Xing Yi walked Shang Zhitao home.

The two of them walked back. They had become quite familiar with each other. Xing Yi was helpful and had often assisted with the “Elderly Couple’s Restaurant.” When Shang Zhitao first returned to Ice City, she didn’t know her way around, and Xing Yi helped her solve many problems.

“With your personality, don’t you find it hard to adapt to working in government?” Shang Zhitao was referring to Xing Yi’s hobbies. He liked playing basketball, and in high school, countless girls would watch him play.

“It’s not bad. Except for having to occasionally drink heavily, which I don’t like. To be honest, drinking with friends is comfortable, but I can’t drink with colleagues.”

“That’s true.”

“How about you? Is running a company tiring? I look at you and think you must be exhausted, managing both a company and restaurant promotions. Your promotions are effective—they’ve even reached my colleagues. Yesterday, one showed me his phone and asked, ‘Have you eaten at this place?’ I thought to myself, isn’t that my property?”

Shang Zhitao laughed heartily at this.

Seeing her laugh happily, Xing Yi also grinned.

She began to understand the hardships Sun Yu had endured during her first few years of entrepreneurship. She had to do everything—business entertaining, proposal preparation, execution, finances—everything required her attention. Fortunately, Fu Dong learned quickly. After following several projects, he could independently handle proposals and execution. At the end of the year, Shang Zhitao gave Fu Dong a raise to ten thousand per month plus year-end bonuses, and put him in charge of the newly recruited staff. In managing people, Shang Zhitao had been learning from Tracy, emulating her decisiveness and professionalism.

Business at the “Elderly Couple’s Restaurant” also improved, with more and more customers, even forming lines in the evenings. Some would take food to go. Everything was heading in a positive direction. Except for marriage.

Neighbors gradually began gossiping about the Shang family’s only daughter, saying she had returned from Beijing with large sums of money to start a company, buy a house and car, possibly because she had been someone’s mistress in Beijing. Old Shang overheard this accidentally and had a fierce argument with that neighbor, never speaking to them again. Other neighbors secretly gossiped that the Shang family’s daughter was thirty years old and still unmarried. She had become somewhat more attractive in recent years, but her standards were too high, and she probably wouldn’t find a husband. Some well-meaning neighbors tried to set up blind dates for Shang Zhitao. To avoid embarrassing her parents, she would go on these dates. The frequency increased from once every six months to once every two weeks. She felt she was developing quite a knack for evaluating men. Among them were one or two decent men who, upon learning that Shang Zhitao used to work in marketing in Beijing and now frequently entertained clients, tactfully expressed their incompatibility.

Shang Zhitao didn’t mind. By the third year of her company, the business had become relatively mature. But Shang Zhitao felt a sense of crisis, always thinking the company’s business model was too singular, with low risk tolerance. As Luan Nian used to say, only fools put all their eggs in one basket; smart people know to distribute their eggs across different baskets.

She investigated many business opportunities. One day, seeing Zhang Lei post photos of himself speaking at an agency conference on his social media, she suddenly thought that becoming an advertising agency might be a good choice. So she genuinely began to consider this direction.

But an advertising agency required a large security deposit, plus team building, all of which needed substantial startup funds. She consulted Zhang Lei about how to proceed. He told her, “I can vouch for you. You can pay a smaller security deposit, but building a team and renting space will require significant money. You need at least 1.5 million in startup funds.”

Looking at her eager young team members, Shang Zhitao found herself torn. Three years had passed, and although the young men working under her were doing well enough, everyone wanted to reach higher.

But Zhang Lei advised her not to rush: “Policies are always changing. The security deposit isn’t the urgent issue; the other funds are. If you can’t manage it, start as a secondary agent first.”

“No, if we’re doing it, we’re going big. But we can test the waters with a few accounts first.”

While Shang Zhitao was researching the advertising agency market, Lu Mi called her: “My dear friend, I need your help.”

“What’s up?”

“Our company is holding an industry summit next month, and it’s set in your Ice City. But our previous supplier has changed management and has no connections in Ice City. Their proposal has been rejected three times already. If this continues, we won’t make it in time.”

“What do you need me to do? Prepare a proposal? Sure.”

“No, I want you to take over the whole thing.”

“What about the procedures?”

“We’ll get special approval for the procedures. Don’t worry.”

“Alright.” After hanging up, Shang Zhitao sent her a message: “What’s the attendance level?”

“Ling Mei is sending a department head, and the other participants are clients’ bosses. All major clients.”

Hearing the attendance level, Shang Zhitao confirmed that Luan Nian wouldn’t be coming, so she readily accepted the business.

It wasn’t that she was afraid to see Luan Nian; she just felt Luan Nian wasn’t like Xin Zhaozhou. After breaking up with Xin Zhaozhou, they could still chat and get along well. If she were to see Luan Nian again, who knows how much verbal abuse she might endure.

With Shang Zhitao’s current temperament, she certainly wouldn’t let him hurt her. The situation would likely turn ugly.

She and her team quickly produced a creative proposal, overturning the previous plan of meetings followed by sightseeing. Instead, they would sightsee first, then return to Ice City for meetings. Shang Zhitao understood Ling Mei’s sales tactics, which were essentially about building influence and signing annual framework agreements. Given this, going sightseeing first would allow sales staff to interact fully with clients and actively integrate, then hold meetings afterward, potentially yielding better results.

The main attraction at this time of year was the snow. She confirmed the actual needs with Lu Mi several times, fine-tuned the creative approach, and submitted it. Will presented this version at the executive meeting, waiting for Luan Nian’s final approval.

“Was this done by the same company as last time?”

“No, Lu Mi urgently switched to a new company, otherwise we wouldn’t make it in time.”

“Hmm. This version is much better, clearly more aligned with our objectives.”

“So we proceed with this plan?”

“Yes.” Luan Nian answered affirmatively, then turned to his secretary: “Please help me coordinate my schedule after New Year’s Day. I’ll participate in this activity from start to finish.”

Everyone exchanged glances, suddenly tense.

Will left the meeting and intercepted Lu Mi as she was about to sneak downstairs: “Where are you going?”

“To buy coffee. Would you like some? I can get you a cup.” Lu Mi appeared respectful.

“Luke has decided to attend this summit. Forget the coffee and work with the supplier on refining the proposal!” Will maintained his stern, old-fashioned demeanor.

Lu Mi raised her eyebrows, looking as if she had successfully pulled off some mischief: “I’ve delegated the proposal. I haven’t told you who the specially approved supplier is, have I? Look at my memory. It’s Flora Shang.”

Even though Shang Zhitao had resigned, Lu Mi still referred to her as Flora this and Flora that to Will. Will remembered the projects he had worked on with Shang Zhitao and trusted her competence, so he let Lu Mi go buy coffee.

When Lu Mi arrived in Ice City, Shang Zhitao naturally invited her to dinner. When asked what she wanted to eat, she said she wanted Da Zhai’s cooking. So they set the dinner location at the “Elderly Couple’s Restaurant.”

“Can I bring my old sweetheart?” Old sweetheart was Lu Mi’s newest nickname for Will. She told Shang Zhitao, my old sweetheart is getting on in years, but his health is still good. I take good care of him with good food and drink, afraid his health might deteriorate. She was quite outspoken.

“Of course!”

“Then it’s settled.”

A moment later, Lu Mi sent another message: “My old sweetheart wants to bring two people. Is that okay?”

“Sure. You all go ahead first. I still have some things to finish here. I need to double-check everything for our departure the day after tomorrow.”

“No problem. I’m already familiar with your mom anyway, so you’re useless. See you later!”

Luan Nian saw the location Will sent him and frowned slightly.

His friend Song Qiuhan asked him, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Song Qiuhan was the investor Luan Nian had previously introduced to Sun Yu. Last year, he had returned to China to head the domestic division of an investment bank, young and accomplished.

Both men were men of few words. After arriving at the hotel and putting away their luggage, they set out for the restaurant. Only upon arrival did they realize it was a small establishment.

Song Qiuhan said, “Your company’s hospitality standards need improvement.”

Luan Nian glanced at him: “You didn’t complain about simplicity when you ate at hole-in-the-wall places with Lin Chuner.”

Upon hearing Lin Chuner’s name, Song Qiuhan’s lips curled into a smile. Lin Chuner was his most treasured beloved; just hearing her name could make him happy.

The two walked in and saw that Lu Mi and Will had already arrived. Luan Nian made brief introductions, then fell silent. Lu Mi ordered six dishes. The portions here weren’t small, but everything was delicious. She explained to Luan Nian: “Luke, it’s not that the supplier is being stingy. This restaurant is great. Family-owned, with excellent food.”

The four of them sitting at the table attracted attention. The men were all well-dressed, while the only woman had a somewhat wild air about her. Overall, it was a pleasing sight.

Lu Mi got up to help Da Zhai and said to her in passing, “See that one wearing the high-end shirt? He used to be the big boss of Taozi and me. He has quite a temper.”

Da Zhai nodded: “He looks like someone with a bad temper. But he’s quite handsome and dignified. You can tell he’s a boss.”

Lu Mi chuckled and returned to the table.

When Da Zhai served the dishes, Luan Nian stood up to receive them, saying to her, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Come again often.”

“I will.”

As the meal began, drinks were served. Lu Mi kept talking nonsense, giving Luan Nian a headache. The bell at the restaurant entrance rang, and the door creaked open, letting in a gust of cold air. Lu Mi shouted, “Shang Zhitao!” and rushed over.

Luan Nian turned his head and saw Shang Zhitao, whom he hadn’t seen for years. She was like a solitary red plum tree blooming on its own in the vast snowy wilderness.

Shang Zhitao’s gaze met his, then calmly moved away.

Wiping the past clean with a single stroke.