In the lobby, employees who were about to be late sprinted past, only to suddenly catch sight of a striking figure at the front desk. They slammed on the brakes and slowly gathered around...
More and more infatuated onlookers crowded near the front desk, threatening to clog the spacious lobby. Qiqi quickly flashed a smile at the receptionist. "No worries, no worries. Since Mr. Zhou isn't in, we'll just wait for him."
At the same time, she didn't forget to give Rong Yi a hard pinch—*Stop smiling, Wolf King. You've achieved your goal. Remember, you're the wise and mighty Wolf King, not some seductive fox spirit who brings kingdoms to ruin.*
Rong Yi composed himself, cleared his throat, and shot Qiqi a reproachful glance—*Wasn't this your idea?*
The receptionist hurriedly invited them to wait in the meeting room, diligently bringing tea and snacks, and returning every five minutes to refill Rong Yi's cup... Watching her leave her post so frequently, Qiqi couldn't help but worry for her.
Whether it was due to the receptionist's eager efforts or not, they waited less than half an hour before a secretary in a gray suit with her hair pinned up immaculately came to fetch them. "Miss Gu, please follow me. Our boss would like to see you."
Qiqi quickly stood up and flashed Rong Yi a "V" sign. Rong Yi tried to follow, but the secretary stopped him. "Sir, please wait here. Our boss only requested Miss Gu."
Her tone was rigid, her expression robotic, and her thick glasses were like the bottom of a beer bottle.
Rong Yi considered deploying his charm, but seeing this secretary as stiff as a coffin lid, he lost all interest.
Fearing complications, Qiqi quickly dissuaded him and whispered, "Let me go alone. Wait for me here. We're in the same building—nothing will happen."
Rong Yi reluctantly agreed and sat down silently in the meeting room, prompting the receptionist to become even more attentive.
Following the secretary into the private elevator, Qiqi realized she was being taken to the 87th floor.
The MD building had 88 floors in total—just one short of the top.
She asked, "Has Mr. Zhou just returned?"
The secretary paused slightly. "It's not the president, but the director. Our director wants to see you."
Qiqi was taken aback. "The director?"
The secretary nodded. "Mrs. Zhou, the vice president's mother. She's our group's financial director."
Qiqi was stunned—*Why Mrs. Zhou? Wasn't she looking for Zhou Yi?*
But a financial director—*wow, that's a big deal.* She wondered if Mrs. Zhou had attended the bidding yesterday on behalf of the MD Group or her cousin Xia Liu's real estate company.
She began to regret leaving Rong Yi downstairs.
Nervous and uneasy, Qiqi followed the secretary into the financial director's office. The office was spacious, with an outer reception area furnished with a beige sofa set and an inner work area dominated by a massive rosewood desk.
Mrs. Zhou sat at the desk, with venetian blinds behind her half-closed, casting her in shadow as she faced the light, giving her a somewhat gloomy appearance.
The secretary quickly withdrew and closed the door, leaving Qiqi standing alone in the center of the office, feeling a bit eerie.
She cleared her throat and greeted, "Hello, Mrs. Zhou."
Mrs. Zhou gave a cold, insincere laugh, her tone noticeably less warm than yesterday. "Gu Qiqi, we meet again."
Qiqi nodded, studying Mrs. Zhou—today she wore a neutral beige suit, its sharp lines lending her an air of a strong woman; her meticulously curled hair was pinned back neatly, devoid of the mature charm she'd exuded yesterday; her expression was stern, almost rigid, as if she'd been stamped from the same mold as the gray-suited secretary, a world apart from the gracious, smiling lady of yesterday.