He wanted to add her on WeChat to transfer money?
Although she shouldn't overthink, He Yao couldn't help but ponder the deeper meaning behind his action.
Meeting privately, helping her gain favor with Xu Zheng, adding her on WeChat, and asking her to play chess together.
As ex-boyfriend and girlfriend who had broken up for many years, wasn't this a bit beyond the line?
Given Zhan Jingrui's looks, physique, demeanor, and social status, He Yao wouldn't be at a disadvantage if he wanted something more with her.
Because Zhan Jingrui was a generous person.
Even if their entanglement ultimately led nowhere, He Yao was certain she wouldn't suffer any loss.
However, He Yao didn't want money.
She wanted a person, affection, and a lifelong commitment of true feelings.
If Zhan Jingrui was destined not to give her a person and affection, why revisit the past and fall into that painful vortex again?
She had already died once and finally struggled out of the vortex.
Heaven knows how she survived those days seven years ago when she broke up with him, saw him with Chu Xi, dropped out of school, and worked in a factory.
She wasn't sure if she could endure it again, so she didn't want to fall back.
He Yao rejected his friend request.
"The pants I just bought for you cost over 7,000 yuan. I've already earned enough for a year's rent, so I don't need to be greedy. Your shirt is indeed ruined; keep this money to compensate for your shirt."
Zhan Jingrui hadn't expected He Yao to refuse him.
He was full of confidence, thinking He Yao would be eager to have something with him, just like years ago.
He was lost in the pleasant feeling and ambiguity of being admired, somewhat losing himself.
Being abruptly rejected, he seemed to suddenly sober up.
Yes, what was he doing?
What difference would adding her on WeChat make?
Could he send He Yao WeChat messages, or could he arrange to do something with her alone?
Could they rekindle their old flame, or was this just a casual encounter?
Nothing could happen.
Chu Xi had been with him for seven years, everyone knew they would get married, and he had already prepared himself mentally.
Since that was the case, why was he still thinking about He Yao?
The knot from years ago had been untied; Chu Xi hadn't wronged him, so did he want to wrong her in return?
Zhan Jingrui, Zhan Jingrui, you are truly an irresponsible scumbag at heart!
Although he was a scumbag at heart, he didn't want to admit it outwardly.
"Fine, since you don't want it, and I don't mind having extra money, I'll keep it."
They didn't speak for the rest of the journey.
The designated driver first took He Yao to the hotel. After a brief farewell, they had no further contact.
If Zhan Jingrui had deliberately lowered himself to interact with her, given He Yao's current standing, they probably would never have met again.
Three days after the dinner invitation, Xu Zheng received an internal supplier bidding invitation from Zhan Corporation.
The bid amount for this batch of orders was one hundred million yuan, far exceeding his company's capacity.
But the more it was so, the greater the leap his company would take if they could secure it, and Xu Zheng was very excited.
He convened a meeting with all personnel to prepare the bid proposal, determined to win this bid no matter what.
Everyone brainstormed and devised many methods, fully preparing for this bid.
Hard work paid off. Because the bid proposal was well-crafted and standardized, they successfully advanced from the first round to the next.
Xu Zheng was good at managing relationships and was willing to invest effort and money in maintaining them. Therefore, despite only interacting with a few procurement officers a few times, he had already won them over.
Moreover, He Yao had a good relationship with Engineer Tang from the technical department. The two of them, through subtle hints, revealed some information to the procurement officers. After some modifications to the bid proposal, they entered the final competition after the second round of bidding.
There were only three suppliers left. If they could defeat the other two, Xu Zheng's career would reach a new peak.
During that period, everyone worked overtime, repeatedly comparing and revising. Every step, every data point, was optimized to be superior, simpler, more efficient, and more cost-effective than their competitors.
Although it was hard work, everyone was filled with hope, and their days were fulfilling.
With only three days left until the final bidding conference, they held another meeting to discuss the bid proposal and see if there was any room for data changes. He Yao proposed a bold suggestion.
Regarding the final product delivery date, they could actually shorten it by another week.
As soon as she said this, the production department supervisor and the technical department supervisor raised objections.
"With the current mold technology in the industry, the maximum daily production capacity is 1,000 units. Including defective products and the time required for subsequent assembly, as well as defects that may occur during assembly, the maximum daily output can only be considered 900 units."
"We also need to account for various unpredictable variables, holidays, and staff turnover. The current data is already at the highest level. How can we shorten it by another week?"
Everyone felt she was just a pretty face who talked without understanding the practicalities, shifting pressure onto others.
But He Yao had factual basis.
She showed everyone the mold drawings of another product she had found in advance.
"The production process of this product is essentially similar to the product we are bidding for. Since this product can use composite molds, producing 2,000 units a day, why can't the bidding product?"
"As long as we convert the molds to composite molds and find a contract manufacturer, producing them concurrently and simultaneously, I believe it's entirely possible to advance the delivery by a week."
The technical supervisor interrupted her.
"Haven't we considered what you're saying? Although the production processes of the two products are similar, the materials are worlds apart."
"The bidding product has higher quality requirements, and the 98-grade steel used is several degrees harder than the 92-grade steel you mentioned. Using composite molds will result in a high deformation rate."
"Furthermore, after quenching, shaping, and electroplating, the probability of deformation will be even higher. The efficiency may be increased, but what's the use of producing a pile of defective products?"
"Don't think that just because you've spent a few days in the workshop and have some understanding of molds, you can speak so casually. We have considered the technical aspects much more thoroughly than you."
He Yao didn't deny that the technical supervisor knew more about technology than her. However, he was only talking about the conventional state, the situation that generally occurs under common understanding.
If they didn't try boldly, how would they know if the reality was indeed so? Could the product withstand the test?
"If the other two companies have the same considerations as us, then our results from raw material procurement, intermediate production, to subsequent delivery, and all other aspects will be similar."
"If others are willing to lose money to win this bid, and under consistent conclusions, they lower the price, where will our winning edge be?"
"At this stage, everyone is definitely competing with unconventional strategies. If we are mediocre, why would we win against others?"
"Based on goodwill? Popularity? Favoritism from the judges? This is a bid of one hundred million yuan. Relying solely on these, wouldn't it be too risky and too little effort?"