"It's fine," Mrs. Ren shook her head, smiling at her with red-rimmed eyes. "I like you, so I wanted to give you something."
"It's too precious, I can't accept it," Huo Rou refused.
Mrs. Ren smiled kindly, her voice like orchid mist and her eyes full of tenderness. "You must accept it."
"Xiao Rou, I feel a sense of familiarity when I see you." Mrs. Ren looked through her as if she were seeing someone else. "This hairpin was given to me by a sister when I was young. Now that I'm old, it doesn't look good on me. It's perfect for you."
This was clearly an excuse. Mrs. Ren obviously cherished the hairpin, as she had been wearing it all along.
Huo Rou met her gaze and was drawn into it for a moment.
"It looks so good on you," a tear slid from Mrs. Ren's eyes. She wiped it away, smiling elegantly. "The wind is too strong, it got into my eyes. Let's go back."
When Huo Rou helped Mrs. Ren back to the living room, they had already reached an agreement. Ren Xiangtian noticed Mrs. Ren immediately, and seeing her red-rimmed eyes, he walked over.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, the wind was just too strong," Mrs. Ren shook her head.
Ren Xiangtian breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he noticed the hairpin on Huo Rou's head. His gaze lingered for a moment before he thoughtfully turned away.
When the group returned to the company, Duan Rui finally learned that Huo Rou had gone out and signed a major deal, with the Ren family no less!
In his office, his fists clenched, his face a mask of barely concealed ferocity.
As he was fuming, the office phone rang.
"Brother Duan, someone from Qin Group called about renewing the contract. Sister Ru said she's leaving now and asked me to check with you, whether you or Director Huo will be going from the technical department?" the receptionist downstairs called.
"Qin Group?" Duan Rui's eyes lit up, and his ferocious expression vanished, replaced by one of smug satisfaction.
Ever since the incident with the former director in the first half of the year, Qin Group's attitude towards them had changed. It was obvious to anyone that they wouldn't choose them next time.
And now, they were calling to renew!
"I'll go," Duan Rui hung up the phone, tidied his clothes, and with an air of confidence, walked out.
Duan Rui called his trusted subordinates and, with his laptop, headed downstairs.
"What is Deputy Director Duan going out for? He looks so cheerful," Brother Yang, returning from outside, encountered Duan Rui getting into the elevator and asked his colleagues in the office, puzzled.
"Who knows? Director Huo just signed the Ren family deal, and he was so angry he looked like he'd swallowed a fly."
"Ah? How did Director Huo manage to get the Ren family? Didn't they say the next successor of the Ren family is a computer whiz, who always handles their firewalls and such himself?" Brother Yang had heard about the Ren family; that Ren Zhen was truly impressive.
"That just goes to show how capable Director Huo is!" Brother Wang chuckled heartily, looking very proud.
"Signing the Ren family deal means we've made a name for ourselves in the industry too," Brother Wang slapped his thigh, laughing triumphantly as if he had negotiated it himself. "The tough nut that others couldn't crack, our Director Huo snapped it up in one morning."
Luo Chen passed by their office and overheard their conversation. A vein on his forehead twitched.
If only they knew that the Ren family had signed with Yuda Security solely because Director Huo was there, and that they hadn't even negotiated, just chatted casually...
He and Shen Sitong had been completely useless. Huo Rou had taken them along, practically giving them performance bonuses for free.
Being led to success by a woman, Luo Chen wouldn't have believed it before, but now...
Perhaps he should get used to it.
Brother Wang and the others were still chatting enthusiastically when Luo Chen received a call from Shen Sitong.
"Brother Luo, why aren't Director Huo and Sister Ru going for the Qin Group renewal?" Shen Sitong had been working with Luo Chen and his team more often recently, so she called him directly.
"Qin Group renewal? What are you talking about?" Luo Chen hadn't heard any news.
Shen Sitong was anxious, "You guys don't know?"
"What does Duan Rui mean? Qin Group is a big client, shouldn't Director Huo be going? He, a deputy director, intercepted the news and went himself?" Shen Sitong speculated.
"That's something he would do," Luo Chen said, looking as if he had eaten a fly. But Luo Chen was already gone, and there was no point in complaining now.
"Don't tell Director Huo. It's a done deal anyway. Let him have it if he wants it so badly. Qin Group might still be settling old scores." Luo Chen, afraid Huo Rou would be upset upon hearing the news, took it upon himself to ask Shen Sitong to keep it a secret.
"Okay, okay. Since it's like this, let's not bother Sister Huo with it." Shen Sitong thought it made sense.
In the Qin Group's reception room, Duan Rui and Huo Nanru were waiting.
"Sister Ru, what does it mean that they're saying President Qin is busy and asking us to wait?" Duan Rui was a bit bewildered. Usually, they dealt with the professional departments, so why would such a small matter require President Qin's personal attention?
Huo Nanru also found it strange. She had been present at last year's signing, and they had only dealt with their security center.
As they speculated, they also felt a sense of anticipation. They had heard many legends about the mysterious President Qin; there were very few photos online. Now they were about to meet the real person.
The receptionist relayed the message to the 65th floor, and Assistant Xiao immediately entered Qin Ningyi's office to report.
"Mr. Qin, the people from Yuda Security have arrived." Assistant Xiao had received instructions earlier to inform Qin Ningyi as soon as someone from Yuda Security arrived.
Qin Ningyi, who was looking at his watch, immediately put down the report. A hint of a smile appeared on his face; Huo Rou had arrived.
He got up and walked towards the reception room.
The moment the reception room door opened, Qin Ningyi's smile vanished. The atmosphere seemed to darken by a degree; Huo Rou was not inside.
Duan Rui and Huo Nanru had composed their smiles the moment the door opened and looked over.
Before them stood a man with an extraordinary aura and a commanding presence, who appeared to be younger than both of them.
The air suddenly seemed to freeze. Qin Ningyi walked in with a stern, somber face. He stood before them, looking down with an air of superiority.
"Who are you?" Qin Ningyi asked, his voice deep and measured.
"Hello, I am Huo Nanru, Director of Product Department at Yuda Security. This is our Deputy Director of Technical Department, Duan Rui," Sister Ru, having seen much of the world, stepped forward with a smile and introduced them, despite feeling a tremor at Qin Ningyi's cold gaze.
"Hello, this is our President, Mr. Qin," Xiao Konglin moved aside slightly to introduce them.
He felt something was off. Mr. Qin's mood seemed to be fluctuating unpredictably today. He decided to keep his distance.
Qin Ningyi narrowed his eyes and fixed them on Duan Rui. "Heh, Deputy Director?"
Duan Rui extended his hand politely for a handshake.
Qin Ningyi glanced at Duan Rui with disdain. He could probably guess how Huo Rou was treated at the company.
"Have your Director Huo come. Otherwise, there's no need to talk about cooperation," Qin Ningyi said coldly as he walked out. Then he instructed Xiao Konglin, "From now on, don't let this Deputy Director Duan in. He's a disgrace."