The next day, after sobering up, Liu Jinhua and Xiya arrived at Xio.
Both of them felt very uneasy. On top of that, the entire office was filled with Ou Yunchen’s oppressive aura, making them so tense that they dared not speak and even breathed with extreme caution.
At this moment, Ruby called and informed Ou Yunchen that Zhou Man was already on the elevator.
Liu Jinhua: "Then we'll go out first."
Ou Yunchen: "Sit down."
The two, who had just started to get up, had no choice but to obediently sit back down, heads bowed, and remained silent.
When Zhou Man pushed the door open and entered, she saw the two people on the sofa and then looked at Ou Yunchen, who was in low spirits. She guessed that they must have made a mistake and were here to be reprimanded.
Ou Yunchen: "You sit here."
Ou Yunchen pointed to the chair opposite him.
Ou Yunchen: "You declined the invitation to be a judge for the domestic film awards. Why?"
Liu Jinhua interjected from behind.
Ou Yunchen: "I didn't ask you."
Liu Jinhua obediently sat down again.
Zhou Man: "I don't want to go."
Ou Yunchen: "It's not up to you. I've already agreed and even arranged for you to accept an interview."
Zhou Man: "I'm not going!"
Liu Jinhua stood up again: "Yes, Zhou Man has another engagement that day..."
Ou Yunchen: "Sit down!!!"
With this sharp reprimand, everyone fell silent. Zhou Man no longer maintained her haughty posture, Liu Jinhua dared not meddle further, and as for Xiya, she must have gradually realized her失态 (loss of composure) the previous night and her rudeness on the phone.
Zhou Man: "They asked me to present the award for Best Actress, but do you know who the nominees are?"
Ou Yunchen: "Who?"
Zhou Man: "Luo Yu! It's common knowledge that she and I don't get along! If she actually wins the award, I have to present it to her? I'd rather not participate at all!"
Ou Yunchen: "How are you so sure she'll win the award?"
Zhou Man: "Anyway, I just know that Yan Shizong has bribed many film critics in private to promote Luo Yu."
Ou Yunchen: "It seems you are quite familiar with his actions."
Zhou Man: "He's just trying to provoke me. If Luo Yu wins Best Actress, she'll be the only actress to achieve a Grand Slam, something even I haven't achieved!"
Ou Yunchen: "Then you should be even more magnanimous. It's her honor to have you present her award."
Liu Jinhua: "I agree!"
This time, Ou Yunchen did not scold Liu Jinhua for interrupting. Seeing that Ou Yunchen was not criticizing her, Xiya beside her also stood up to express her agreement.
Only Zhou Man turned her head and glared at the two of them.
Zhou Man: "If you want me to present the award, fine, but I won't interact with her."
Ou Yunchen: "As you wish."
Zhou Man: "And don't expect me to flatter her in the interview the way you want me to!"
Ou Yunchen: "Just don't ruin your own reputation."
Zhou Man: "What about my film? It's been shortlisted for an Oscar nomination, and we're not allowed to promote it?"
Ou Yunchen: "It's not time yet."
Zhou Man: "Yan Shizong is buying traffic for Luo Yu in all sorts of ways, even the online film reviews are being manipulated by paid commenters. Now he's resorting to bribery to get her nominated for Best Actress, and you're doing nothing?"
Ou Yunchen: "Yes, doing nothing."
Zhou Man: "You!"
Liu Jinhua quietly urged Zhou Man to calm down, fearing that the fire would spread to Zhou Man, adding fuel to the fire with Ou Yunchen.
Ou Yunchen: "Before Luo Yu becomes Best Actress, keep your mouth shut. Can you do that?"
Zhou Man reluctantly hummed a quiet "en" and then turned to glare fiercely at Liu Jinhua.
Ou Yunchen: "You can leave now."
Liu Jinhua got up to leave, but Ou Yunchen said again: "You two, come over and sit."
Zhou Man cursed "Serves you right" in Liu Jinhua's ear, then wiggled her backside and left.
Liu Jinhua and Xiya sat opposite Ou Yunchen, their heads bowed even lower.
Ou Yunchen: "Speak, what did you do wrong."
Liu Jinhua apologized first and then nudged Xiya with her elbow. Xiya then grudgingly admitted that she shouldn't have spoken rudely to her boss, nor should she have acted without authorization and disobeyed her boss...
However, just as Liu Jinhua was expecting a scolding, she surprisingly didn't hear those words.
Ou Yunchen: "You also did me a favor. Although you got them all drunk, the collaboration was successful. I thought it would take several meetings with these bosses to finalize the contract."
Liu Jinhua: "Boss, they agreed?"
Ou Yunchen: "Yes, they said they've had dinner with celebrities several times, but none were as interesting as this time with you."
Liu Jinhua: "Then I understand. Celebrities put on an act when they dine, few of them are clean and pretend it's their first time attending..."
Ou Yunchen: "Enough."
Ou Yunchen crossed his arms and looked at Xiya with a sigh.
Liu Jinhua: "I've spoken to Xiya, and she knows she was wrong."
Ou Yunchen: "Xiya, lift your head."
Xiya looked up, her eyes red like a startled rabbit, just like back in Ou Yunchen's house years ago.
Ou Yunchen: "Xiya, your biggest problem isn't talking nonsense when you're drunk."
"Alcohol may embolden you to say what's on your mind, proving you're at least an honest person, but that's not your biggest issue."
Xiya: "I'm sorry, boss..."
Ou Yunchen: "Your biggest problem is not trusting me. Just like when Liu Jinhua brought you to me, you always viewed me with prejudice."
"I've never had any ulterior motives towards you. You were just a tool for me to make money. It's harsh to say it like this, but it's better to be upfront."
Xiya: "I understand."
Ou Yunchen: "This is all the information regarding the creation of your own brand of beauty products. It will be promoted as your own brand, but you will only have a small stake and no control. Consider it my investment in you."
Xiya: "Okay, that's fine."
Ou Yunchen: "That's all for now. From now on, all matters regarding the brand will be handled by Manager Liu and you."
Xiya nodded again. Liu Jinhua also contributed to her being able to sit here so obediently.
Before coming, she had explained to Xiya that creating this brand was a very important decision for her, meaning she could gradually move towards capital.
Even if she were to be eliminated from the entertainment industry one day, or even if tBp were to be disbanded, she could use her own earnings to invest in projects, enough to maintain her current living standard.
Xiya stood up and bowed deeply to Ou Yunchen.
Liu Jinhua patted Xiya on the shoulder and told her to leave, not to disturb the boss's work.
***
Ou Yunchen checked his watch. It seemed it was time to meet Jin Datong.
If Jin Datong hadn't said it was an emergency, they shouldn't have met privately. But with Colin and Maggie both back in the US, Ou Yunchen was the only one who could make decisions for the time being.
To avoid arousing suspicion from Xu Shuming, Jin Datong deliberately chose a time when Xu Shuming was on a business trip to arrange the meeting with Ou Yunchen.
Waiter: "Sir, do you have a reservation?"
Ou Yunchen: "My surname is Ou."
Waiter: "Very well, Mr. Ou, please come this way."
As soon as Ou Yunchen walked in, he saw Jin Datong sitting by the window. Just as Ou Yunchen was about to walk over, he caught sight of a familiar figure in his peripheral vision.
Jin Datong was about to raise his arm to wave when he saw Ou Yunchen seemingly carelessly drop his sunglasses on the ground, and then he walked straight past Jin Datong's seat.
As Jin Datong turned to call out to Ou Yunchen, he suddenly saw Xu Shuming's face.
Jin Datong immediately picked up Ou Yunchen's sunglasses and then turned to call Ou Yunchen back.
Jin Datong: "Oh, Mr. Ou, what a coincidence, you're here for tea too."
Ou Yunchen: "Yes, I have an appointment."
At this moment, Xu Shuming walked over. He had already suspected that there was something going on between Jin Datong and Ou Yunchen. Now he thought he had caught them red-handed!
Ou Yunchen: "Boss Xu, what a coincidence, you're here too."
Jin Datong: "Mr. Xu, aren't you on a business trip?"
Xu Shuming: "If I were truly on a business trip, I wouldn't get to see this show, would I? I suspected you were still in contact with people from AtL. It seems Su Hui is still using you."
Ou Yunchen: "Boss Xu, you're too sensitive. Jin Datong and I just met by chance. I'm here to meet someone."
Xu Shuming: "Meeting someone? Where are they? I think it's the two of you meeting each other."
Jin Datong was very timid and not good at lying. He was already nervously looking to Ou Yunchen for help.
Ou Yunchen: "Then, Boss Xu, would you like to sit down and wait with me for the person I'm meeting?"
Xu Shuming: "Fine, I'll see how long you can keep up this act!"
Ou Yunchen, leading the way, walked to a round dining table with a small "Reserved" sign on it. As Ou Yunchen sat down, a waiter came over to greet him.
Waiter: "Mr. Ou, have all your guests arrived?"
Ou Yunchen looked at Xu Shuming, who had followed and sat down, and Jin Datong beside him, then smiled and shook his head.
The waiter placed the drink menu on the table and politely left.
Up to this point, it all seemed as if Ou Yunchen had indeed invited Jin Datong, not a chance encounter, because he had also reserved a table!
After a long while, when Xu Shuming was starting to get impatient, someone finally walked towards them.