When Zhou Jinbai reached out, Lin Xingwan quickly explained, "Even though I've canceled my engagement, I'm not a casual woman."
Zhou Jinbai looked at the woman before him, so nervous her breathing was ragged, and found it inexplicably amusing to tease her.
However, the man remained calm and collected. "When you were getting your driver's license, didn't the instructor teach you to buckle up when you get in a car?"
*Click.*
The sound of the seatbelt locking into place.
Zhou Jinbai returned to his original position and drove away.
Lin Xingwan felt as if a hornet's nest had exploded in her head. Facing this mortifying public scene, she wished she could disappear on the spot.
"I'm not a casual man either," Zhou Jinbai said softly, his mood improving as he watched the woman's face turn red all the way to her neck in the rearview mirror.
Lin Xingwan: ...
Please, just stop talking, okay?
Zhou Jinbai dropped Lin Xingwan off at the entrance of Huanyu Company.
"I should be done with things around three o'clock, so come pick me up around half-past three," Lin Xingwan said to Zhou Jinbai before getting out of the car.
As long as she didn't drive after four, she wouldn't hit the evening rush hour.
"Okay."
Zhou Jinbai's reply was concise, and he watched Lin Xingwan leave.
Just as he was about to look away, he spotted a silver USB drive lying quietly on the passenger seat.
Since Lin Xingwan hadn't gone far, Zhou Jinbai parked the car and ran towards Huanyu Company with the USB drive.
As usual, Lin Xingwan used the few minutes it took to get from the company entrance to her office to handle a pile of tasks.
Assistant Liu Mengqin closed the memo she was holding, and Lin Xingwan asked, "Sister Qin, how is Congcong doing now?"
Congcong was Liu Mengqin's son.
"He's had three days of injections and went to school today," Liu Mengqin replied. Then she added, "Did you reject all the contracts for endorsements you were planning to give to Lin Shirou?"
"The company has many excellent artists, and even some influencers are better than Lin Shirou. Giving all those endorsements to Lin Shirou is a complete waste."
Liu Mengqin listened to Lin Xingwan's explanation and couldn't help but admire the woman's ability to handle matters with a clear distinction between personal and professional issues, still analyzing rationally.
"But even if you think that way, Gu Shaoting doesn't. He'll just think you're targeting Lin Shirou at every turn. In his eyes, Lin Shirou's farts are fragrant. He'll definitely come looking for trouble with you today," Liu Mengqin said with concern.
The elevator doors opened just then, and Lin Xingwan saw Gu Shaoting in her office, looking like he was about to interrogate her.
She walked out of the elevator with confident steps, a mocking curve at the corner of her lips. "He's already here."
"Huh?" Liu Mengqin was confused and followed Lin Xingwan's gaze, indeed seeing Gu Shaoting with a displeased expression.
Liu Mengqin's face also turned cold.
As Lin Xingwan walked into her office, Gu Shaoting slammed a stack of documents onto the floor. "Lin Xingwan, when will you ever change your petty nature? Are you holding a grudge because I saved Shirou, so you rejected so many endorsements for her? What else can you do besides bully Shirou all these years?"
Gu Shaoting was furious. This woman was so ungrateful, completely eroding the last shred of his good impression of her.
Lin Xingwan walked to her office chair and sat down. Looking at the man standing before her, she raised her eyes. "Huanyu Company has been promoting Lin Shirou for two years. During this time, all the top resources of the company have been given to her, but the return rate is lower than that of other artists and influencers. As the Vice President of the company, I have the right to stop the resource allocation to Lin Shirou."
"Hasn't Shirou made money for the company all these years? I could have directly overturned your rejection, but I still came to talk to you. Who would have thought you'd come up with such a high-sounding excuse? Lin Xingwan, if you'd honestly admit you're using your position for personal revenge, I might have respected you more."
Lin Xingwan gave up trying to reason with Gu Shaoting and asked coldly, "So, what do you want?"
"Sign the contracts you rejected again, and also give Lin Shirou the endorsement for the Atlantean Jewelry brand."
"Impossible!" Lin Xingwan refused without hesitation. "Atlantean is an international jewelry brand and the first high-end brand Huanyu Company secured. It absolutely cannot be given to Lin Shirou."
Back then, Lin Xingwan had spent more than three months working tirelessly to secure the endorsement contract for the Atlantean brand. The Atlantean brand representatives had already recognized Lin Xingwan's sincerity, so they signed a contract with her before leaving.
First, the Atlantean brand endorsement must be personally confirmed by Lin Xingwan.
Second, if Huanyu Company brings any negative impact to the Atlantean brand, it must pay ten times the liquidated damages.
Lin Shirou, who relied on spending money to get ahead, was not worthy of endorsing Atlantean Jewelry, let alone her questionable character! She would eventually bring a heavy blow to Huanyu Company.
"Lin Xingwan, your position as Vice President was given by me. I can replace you at any time."
Gu Shaoting glared at Lin Xingwan, his usually refined face now contorted with ferocity.
Even though Lin Xingwan had given up on this man, hearing these words from him still made her furious.
*Crash!*
Lin Xingwan slammed a glass cup onto the floor. "Gu Shaoting, don't forget, you begged me to come to Huanyu to help you. What do you mean by saying this to me now? Did I beg you for the position of Vice President like a desperate beggar?"
Years ago, as Huanyu Company was gradually getting on track, Lin Xingwan wanted to retire.
She never coveted Huanyu's money, nor did she care about her position.
Gu Shaoting, however, proposed to her, gave her twenty percent of Huanyu Company's shares, and made her the company's Vice President, telling her the company couldn't function without her.
Less than two years later, this man had become so arrogant that he had forgotten his past self.
"It was true that I wanted to give you everything back then, and it's true that I'm disappointed in you now. Lin Xingwan, I haven't removed you yet because of our past relationship and because Shirou spoke up for you. I've already agreed to the contracts you rejected. As for the Atlantean Jewelry brand endorsement, I'll give you the morning to consider it."
With that, Gu Shaoting left in a huff.
Liu Mengqin, who had been silent, was so angry she started cursing. "Gu Shaoting, that scumbag, how can he be so shameless? He dares to threaten you? Doesn't he know that your prestige at Huanyu Company has been higher than his all these years? He's just a slippery eel dipped in salt, and he thinks he's a seafood now!"
Lin Xingwan was extremely disappointed in Gu Shaoting. She said to Liu Mengqin, "Sister Qin, I want to resign."
"Resign? That would be letting that scumbag couple, Gu Shaoting and Lin Shirou, off the hook! You've made such significant contributions to the company over the years, leaving now would be too much of a loss."
"I'm not interested in anything at Huanyu. I used to sincerely give my all because I liked Gu Shaoting. Now that I don't like him anymore, there's naturally no need for me to stay."
Lin Xingwan didn't want to stay there for another moment; she felt even the air was polluted.
Just then, a man's voice came from the doorway.
"Discarding the millstone after grinding the grain, crossing the river and demolishing the bridge. It seems Huanyu Company won't last much longer."
Lin Xingwan's gaze fell on the doorway, and she was surprised. "Zhou Jinbai, why are you here?"