The award ceremony concluded, and the hotel began serving food. Eating the Ritz-Carlton's fare, even Liu Chen thought it was delicious.
Whether it was because she was too hungry or because the hotel's chef was truly skilled, Liu Chen savored every bite.
After the meal, and tired from a long day, Liu Chen, in her eight-centimeter heels, walked as if on level ground, supporting Mi Zhuzhu and Sang Ling, who were wearing heels for the first time and walking somewhat unsteadily.
"Waaah, I'm never wearing high heels again. My heels feel like they don't belong to me anymore."
"Me neither..."
"Chen Chen, *sniff*, when I saw you on stage receiving your award, wow, you were so cool! I took so many pictures, but they were all on my phone. I'll ask in the group later if anyone brought a camera and can send me a couple."
"Super cool!"
Listening to the two women's praise, Liu Chen couldn't help but smile. Back in the hotel room, after the two women took off their high heels, it was clear that both Mi Zhuzhu and Sang Ling's heels were rubbed raw, with traces of their blood on the back of the shoes.
While they tended to their injuries and scrolled through Weibo for photos from the night, Liu Chen soaked in the bathtub, relaxing. When she had soaked enough, she took out her phone and saw a message from a female reporter from C City whom she had added earlier on QQ.
Seeing this message, Liu Chen's right eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably.
As the saying goes, a left eye twitch means fortune, and a right eye twitch means disaster. Liu Chen suddenly felt reluctant to open it. But then she thought, she was no longer the same as in her previous life. Now she had loving family and friends who cared for her, substantial financial resources, and even countless rare and peculiar prizes from the system's lottery draws.
Fearless!
Liu Chen opened the message from the female reporter:
"Hello, Liu Chen. I'm the female reporter who interviewed you during the summer break. Do you remember me? It's like this, your father, Mr. Hu Xingfa, has contacted our program's host, Xu Danli.
He said he couldn't reach you and hoped to connect with you through our program to participate in an interview and resolve the misunderstandings in your father-daughter relationship over the years."
"Hu Xingfa..."
Liu Chen hadn't expected that after she ignored his private messages on Weibo, Hu Xingfa would resort to using television programs to pressure her.
Her mind raced, and Liu Chen replied on QQ:
"Why couldn't you reach me? My phone number hasn't changed all these years, and I even sent him a New Year's greeting text message at the beginning of this year."
Liu Chen's reply was meant to imply that Hu Xingfa, as a father, didn't care about her at all. Her phone number hadn't changed, and she had even sent him a New Year's greeting text. It was his lack of attention that prevented him from recognizing his daughter's number.
As expected, as soon as Liu Chen sent this message, the other party replied:
'Liu Chen, I suggest you don't participate in this interview. I feel that your father and Sister Li...'
'Liu Chen, there are no grudges between father and daughter that can't be resolved. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding about the phone number. You are still young and don't understand the preciousness of family affection. Moreover, you are so popular on Weibo now. If people know about your past situation with your father, it might also cause trouble for your reputation.' Kanshuge
These two contrasting messages were sent, and Liu Chen narrowed her eyes, knowing that the latter part of the message was likely from Xu Danli, whom the female reporter had mentioned.
The incomplete sentence from the female reporter was meant to warn her that this interview was a trap set by both the female reporter and Hu Xingfa, and that she should not go.
Liu Chen brought up the prizes in her system and saw the "Truth-Telling Talisman" and "Misfortune Talisman." Her eyes darkened:
"Hu Xingfa, Hu Xingfa, I originally intended to let you off the hook, but since you've run into my gun, don't blame me."
After saying this, Liu Chen replied in QQ:
"So... when is the interview time?"
Liu Chen deliberately added an ellipsis to convey her inner struggle, as if she were a little girl longing for paternal love after being deprived of it.
As expected, the other party quickly sent a message:
How about New Year's Day?
Seeing this message, Liu Chen couldn't help but let out a cold laugh:
"New Year's Day? A few days' time is enough for you to set up traps and ask me questions? Don't worry, I'll give you plenty of time to prepare your questions to trip me up."
While saying this, Liu Chen replied on QQ:
"But I might not be back by New Year's Day. The laboratory might not give us a holiday. Could you wait until I finish my winter break?"
This time, the other party replied almost instantly:
Okay, when do you get your winter break?
Liu Chen noticed that the "you" used by the other party was different from the "you" used by the reporter. It seemed that host Xu Danli didn't trust the female reporter's communication with her and wanted to finalize everything directly with Liu Chen before returning the QQ account to her.
"We get our winter break on February 1st."
Without asking further, the other party confirmed the time:
Then, we will have the interview in the studio at 2 PM on February 2nd.
Liu Chen read this as a statement, not a negotiation. She raised an eyebrow, thinking that this host Xu Danli had looked down on her and Sang Ling, the two top scorers invited, from the very beginning.
She wondered what expression she would have if Liu Chen managed to turn the tables on her.
With this thought, Liu Chen smiled and slowly typed on the keyboard before sending:
"Mhmm... okay."
After sending the message, Liu Chen placed her phone back beside the bathtub, stood up, and stepped out, wrapped in a towel. She applied essential oil to her hair from the dressing table and then began to blow-dry it with the hotel's hairdryer.
She started calculating.
After New Year's Day, she would go with Guo Da to observe the land auction in C City and understand the process. Then, she needed to register the patent for the pork jerky recipe and apply for various licenses.
Her interview with Hu Xingfa would, without a doubt, likely dominate the headlines on Weibo.
She could use this traffic to launch her new products.
Yes, it would be best to stock a few thousand units first. After all, by the time the show aired, it would be only a few days before the Lunar New Year. Even if there was a surge in orders, her employees would have already gone home for the holidays. Who would produce the pork jerky for her?
"Hmm, I need to inform Old Master Chen. Meimei Chang needs to ramp up production and stock up."
After drying her hair, she glanced at the time. It was already almost eleven o'clock at night. Although the elderly sleep less, Liu Chen still didn't make the call. If she discussed work matters before sleeping, she might forget about it after a night's sleep.
She walked out of the bathroom. The living room lights were off. Mi Zhuzhu and Sang Ling had probably finished their routines in the guest bathroom and gone to bed.
Slipping into the covers, Liu Chen turned to look at the Oriental Pearl Tower outside the window and slowly closed her eyes. Her breathing gradually deepened.
A night of good sleep.
In the following days, the three of them returned to Beijing. Lai Jielun's MV was completed before New Year's Day. However, thinking about parting ways after returning home, only Liu Chen decided to return to C City for New Year's Day.
This time, Liu Chen skillfully took a taxi to Old Master Chen's old residence.
As soon as Liu Chen entered the house, the sound of a car approaching was heard from behind. She turned to see Chen Long getting out of the driver's seat. Seeing Liu Chen, he broke into a wide smile. Then he quickly said,
"Chen Chen, why didn't you call me to pick you up when you got back? It's so cold this time of year. It must have been cold for you taking a taxi alone at the airport! You can't do this again next time, or Uncle Chen will really get angry!"
As Chen Long spoke, he walked around the front of the car to the passenger side, opened the car door, and held onto the door handle to prevent it from closing while using his other hand on the top of the door to stop Liu Fang, who was getting out, from hitting her head.
Liu Fang, sitting in the passenger seat, emerged from the car with a look of joy on her face.
Liu Chen looked at her mother, who was now five and a half months pregnant. Dressed in a red down jacket, her face was noticeably fuller than before.
She was smiling, and her feet were clad in a pair of matching fuchsia snow boots.
"Chen Chen, Mom saw your photos from the Weibo Night. You looked so beautiful and so commanding! You definitely have the aura of a boss!"
Liu Chen couldn't help but chuckle at the proud expression on her mother's face.
"That's called a 'career woman'! After all, everyone knows I'm the founder of Meimei Brand. I want to show everyone that Meimei Brand is reliable, not just that its founder is a pretty young girl."
Hearing her daughter's words, Liu Fang couldn't help but sigh. She reached out and stroked her daughter's now slender, V-shaped face, suddenly missing the slightly chubby cheeks her Chen Chen used to have.
The once clumsy, easily shy, and inexpressive good girl had now become a capable female boss, or rather, a career woman.
With a long sigh, Liu Fang slowly lowered her hand and clasped her daughter's.
"Chen Chen, Mom will always be behind you. When you're tired, just come home."
Liu Chen looked at her mother's face, which had become rounder but appeared even younger. She knew that this was not only due to the effect of the face cream she had sent from the system but more importantly, because her mother had someone to accompany her.
Shaking her head slightly, Liu Chen smiled and looked at her mother, saying, "Mom, I love what I'm doing now, just like you love running your shop. I also love researching and developing food, creating my brand, and promoting delicious food to everyone.
As long as I'm doing something I love, I don't feel tired. Do you feel tired running your shop, Mom?"
Hearing Liu Chen's rhetorical question, Liu Fang couldn't help but glare at her with a smile:
"You take after me in this aspect. As long as I have a career I love, no matter how tired I am, I like it and am willing to do it!"
After saying this, mother and daughter exchanged a smile.
Chen Long, walking behind them, shook his head and quickly added,
"And me! I also firmly support you two ladies in your endeavors! I'm just a brick, wherever you need me, I'll be there!"