Ou Yunchen's secretary picked him up at the airport and told the driver to hurry.
Secretary: "Mr. Ou, Tong Li from Huaming Capital and several heads of securities firms are waiting for you. I told them you would go over as soon as you landed today."
Ou Yunchen nodded in response. He didn't know what tricks Huaming Capital was up to this time, but this so-called strategic partnership was truly fitting. The more difficult the cooperation, the more it was thrown to him to handle.
When Ou Yunchen arrived at the conference room, he recognized all the bosses seated inside. He exchanged brief greetings and apologized for his lateness.
Tong Li: "I have a new project I want to cooperate on with ATL."
"Because our previous cooperation was very smooth, I thought of you, Mr. Ou, first, and I've also introduced you to the heads of securities firms who have been cooperating with Huaming Capital all these years," Tong Li said with a smile.
Ou Yunchen shook hands with everyone in a friendly manner. Typically, ATL only needed to help Huaming Capital buy and sell in the capital market. This time, securities firms were also involved, suggesting a project of significant magnitude.
Tong Li: "This project is very simple; we want to pump up the stock price of a certain company. The specific plan has already been sent to your secretary."
Ou Yunchen looked at the empty table. He raised his hand, expecting his secretary to hand him the proposal. However, his hand remained in the air for a long time without any documents being presented.
The secretary anxiously flipped through the file folder in her hands. She clearly remembered putting everything inside. Why was it gone now?
As the air grew heavy and all eyes turned to Ou Yunchen's secretary behind him, she nervously explained, "I'm sorry, it might have fallen into the car. I'll go get it now."
Just as the secretary flusteredly opened the conference room door, a young woman with a curvaceous figure quickly presented a bound document to Ou Yunchen.
Ou Yunchen didn't recognize the woman, but her company ID clearly belonged to ATL, and her name was Crystal. She was also a secretary.
Since she was a company employee, Ou Yunchen didn't think much of it. He opened the folder, and it contained exactly the project Tong Li had mentioned. The meeting continued, as if the previous moment was merely a minor interruption.
However, outside the office, Ou Yunchen's secretary sighed with anxiety...
She had never been forgetful. How could she have misplaced such an important document?
If Crystal hadn't found it outside the door, it would have been a huge trouble!
Crystal: "Ruby, if there's nothing else, I'll go back to work."
Ruby: "Thank you just now."
Crystal: "It's nothing."
The meeting lasted nearly two hours. When the conference room door opened, everyone except Ou Yunchen had smiles on their faces.
But perhaps used to seeing her boss's perpetually serious demeanor, the secretary found Ou Yunchen too stern. It was no wonder that working by his side for so long could lead to such immense mental pressure that she momentarily lost focus.
***
Xie Youlin was shocked when he passed by the ramen shop to see it tightly shut. How could the ramen shop, which was open year-round, suddenly be closed?
He walked up to read the "For Rent" advertisement posted outside the shop.
Xie Youlin quickly dialed the number on the advertisement, wanting to inquire about the former tenants of the ramen shop.
-- Xie Youlin on the phone --
Xie Youlin: "Hello, I saw the rental ad outside the ramen shop..."
Xie Youlin: "Oh, no, I'm a regular customer of the ramen shop. I wanted to ask why that elderly couple isn't continuing their lease?"
Xie Youlin: "I see..."
Xie Youlin: "Okay, thank you."
-- Xie Youlin ends call --